The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-28
THE SUNNI hit HILL MINERS.
INV ruEY IND THEIR FAMILIES ARE
FIRING IN 4 Dt'LL WfNIEk
..r,,s storie. Told by the Men Themscives-
Thc,r work, wages. and Diet Grinding
,,e Faces OF the rocr-The storekecpcr
..a IN. Things he sells to the Miners

,.,s s,orie. Told by the Men Themscives-
Thcir work, wages. and Diet Grinding
a.. Face. OF the roor-The storekecpcr
.,d the Things he sells to the Miners
I,>srnRp. Pa Jan 2G-There seems to
y 30 M generally recognized distinctive name
/ -, This mining district. which comprises seven
.ou,,rio4. large and old established ones, EN-
.t.,ip,, in all some 5000 miners aud laborers.
4 rr,uably the summit Hill district is about M
Lyr,i q name rs any. though many know it by
Vbe arpclmtion OF Panther Creek. in tho valley
la which strcamlci all but one OF its mines nrc
Iemutrl III stating the number OF its collieries
and employees the qualification ia necessary
that since the firing of shaft 4. ut Summit HILL
one II the largest mines. employing over 400
mon when in operation Inns been put IN such
condition that 1t cannot be worked Tor possibly
1 year to come. during which time those hitherto
/ dependent upon II will have to hunt work In
other districts. live on charity, or starvc Tho
latter contingency seems most likely. in view OF
thc general condition Of tho anthracite region.
All ihesc mines belong o. the Irhigh Coal and
Navigation Company Until the Lehlgh ana
Wilkcsbarrc Coal Company failed very re-
Gently. they were operated on lease 10y thnt COM
panv; but since that event thoy have reverted
a. the original holders the first named corpo-
ration.
During thc past yoar the pay Of the minors
WAS established on the basis Of coal command
inrsji n New York. each dollar of decline from
that rate working reduction 81 ten per cent. in
varD- On that system. after a primary arbitrary
reduction " 10 per cent. the reductions were
nfhe ilr-t five months IS per cent: in the next
three. 25 per cent: in september and October.
49, per cent and in November and December,
22t per cont 1t is now proposed 10y the Gene
RAJ Superintendent. Mr.. Harris. 90 change to a
Sliding X ale. without the arbitrary 10 per cent.
rluion to start with al the rate of II per cent.
NOR down ON a dollar OF in -rease or decrease.
nor from the 50 basis. This. 1t is promised,
will enable the miners to do u little better in the
,rnre than they have done in the past. During
thepasi yoar the men have had nearly nine
monil Of pretty steady work. For two months
ofl.i summon they were on strike. Payment
il. generally made by the lineal yard in both
aanevavs aud breasts, the proportion Of cnr
Vork t.ing small TIL, regular av.rtg" nay
f,rg.lsway- r. s7.sj pen liunM y lrd. aud 81
fr lraa-t- -as stated hy Mr. Harris subj 4. of
conr- 'I the dedbHtpus be-orr dies iI'Ht. oil
from ~ to % TOR cent. Tn" r"rnnr priro
paid pr wagon. ~ stated hy Mr.. llHrr.; is 81
e,r's. Min RS counts w"re e'oNn iy IN,
men toR reporter fer TnN SrN, ~ Muich h"i
were allowed only IN. and ,y"u hui f3 cents p"I
car A. these rates the Iny roll e. "a" company
as read hy MIR. Harris. cont ln'd iicn- 9i m,n
z
cemtri is NOT vet made M n iuhuMS;
Vine 90 hrar. if day. So 90.
Nnrr. ln lauswaN. iGla daYs. ~lni7
Miner in NiI -ufHvNN. ~ siHN~. 80 az.
Ni.sr 90 I.iH-t W faV-. 80 So
NH.. ln .,.t-f 10y ear. - DAYS. 80 ~.
s@..,",, =, .,,,. ~ =. c ~ day 'S'77
lAhorcf. inside. - iHN ~ ~.
I.lii.i. r. INSIDE. lH daN.. ~ a
IRiuitr - di}., s-1s4,
Breaker boys are paid from % 10 "a cents
day and lhorcr-' wages. on the basis, ar
nominally t9.72 week. Rents run from " y
fo'sl sO month. The non uMvc To- pay ~
company 81 a keg for powder. Nhnt II cost th
company Mr. Harris di nut chons" 10 say. IN
d was par iculnr 10 explain .'M only saiipetr'
amt not soda pUwI q is u.rd p 'rr.
The rrl ortsr not having tvcn permitted Il
examine tire pay rolls 70 IN which the sci cctc'
counts that hc had s"-u brad '""n road. nn'
H. he desired To learn how 'ar tine rNprrl"nec
o. the employees at the comp hy would CON
eide with the rourer nations ui the books D.
brt1ok himself to thor hon, on storm IN
mud there he was shown tho following nroui
g. the earnings OF n miner in shaft in Octobe
last:
r,t., hours. work starting "A hrra.t 81
Ist.tf urwi,f ,ii Ac ~ ~, ltANes. ....-.. Z
Taslu- Nuf ga. wagons oi coal. at ~ cents per .
wagon .+..++.........++.t - .