The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-19
RAPIDS CITY.
Rapids err, liz, July 18Th, 1879.

4H6 Iat6 DeIhCCA D4As /:
and his miners having been settled and
the miners resumed work, it might be |
we'll 10 give little glance at the causes OF
these outbreaks and the conditions and {
social aspects of the mining population.
The average miner is Of ordinary intel /
ligence. rather slow of understanding, firm
in conviction or an idea when once
thoroughly in possession of it, and tena-
cious of the rights and privileges of his
calling; not much given to accepting new
theories or practices, but content to follow
the old established rules Of procedure. He
does no. on an average build house; pro-
vided be does build, and a majority of
them rent, he generally prefers neat,
comfortable shanty, something that OF
necessity belongs TO the western miners as
class. because they are more or less
travelling around from bank to bank, sell |
dom staying in one place more than year |
or so, while the eastern miners very often
are born. brought up aud die in their
native town, living and working 10 one
place for years.
In the FIRST place then, We will consider
the rules governing the working of a coal
shaft. There are always, generally speak
ing, two minsrs working together in a
room, and one OF them at least is supposed
to be on hand every working day, to load
their proportion Of the cars, They have
certain hour at which they 20 to work
every morning:-Say seven O'Clock, and
, should there be 20 work, nothing then on
hand to load and none 10 sight, they then
20 home and there is no more work that
day, no matter what comes in later. This
being one Of the understood rules agreed
! upon, at the recent meetings held this
! summer at which an organization was
: perfected. and certain rules of procedure
laid down 10 be followed by the miners of
this region. Nothing out of the way-as
employers very often form into com pauy
for certain good and just demands, and
p these rules have been followed faithfully
a so far, and no detriment to employer or
. mployed has resulted from it,
One of these rules is that a certain
amount Of sulphur sent out on a car OF
bank coal, calls man out. Ii it occurs
again, and a standing committee meet
with the mine boss and the case is consid-
J. cred good cause for complaint, the man or
}, men are open to discharge. Usually, the
: first or second offense is condoned by
taking to them, but if repeated, the mat
. ter is called up,and If the nan is discharg
l. ed, 20 grounds foT complaint on bis part
II can be entertained; the tacit uud standing
O being that no man is to be discharged
without cause, Though not recognized By
10 any established rules or agreement, there
IS is aFo check we.ghman whose duty it il
10 to stand beside the company weigh master
), and keep bulletin o. each mans number
). or rooms output of coal for che Gay; hi:
g duty being to post it up after the days
4, work is done, where all the men can see
y Just what their day work has been. He
l. also is to see that correct weight Is given
that 60 mistakes are made, and to settle
" with the weight boss the amount, L any
n. that car or cars shall be docked for sui
:" phur or siata. He is paid by the men, anG
IN keeps the accounts rs faT IS coel is con-
D. cerned between the operator and tit
O. miners. His books being the ezac
y for at the end of the month. he is gener
ally 0HC Ot luS va al Jill dttOl
though not always, and is an importan
:" man, and ought to be a good and able per
e. son.
ID The miners are required to furnish thei
~ On On lights, oil, powder, tools aud Or 81
ce necessary articles used in the mine. TIL
operator furnishes the cars, props for sup
ID porting the r9os, track to mouth of th,
IT; room, boilers and water pipes for seepin,
on the mine clear OF water. and current d
air is intended to be 80 directed by sys
tenn of ventilation by means of canvas
90 doors and partitions. that all parts of tn,
ri mine will have current OF moving air
ee which is further aided by an air shaft ane
furnace, whereby draft is made in sum
mer down the hosting shaft and I'D tn,
air shaft creating Graft through the en
tire mine. This carries off all the smok,
in arising from the lamps, aud powder smok
IS from the shots fred by the men. The,
are also furnished with mules to haul tn
0" coal from the mouth of the room to tn,
O. bottom of the hosting shaft, and drivers
he to drive the same who are paid by tn,
st car, thus insariDg that there will be nt
i'm tagging 10 getting the cars to the bottom
=" nor in returning them to the miners
1g There is also o company blacksmith wh,
receives usually, one dollar from each O
be the miners, per month, for sharpenins
be tools. The miners also, If married, arr
IS furnished certain amount of nut coal FREE
lis per month.
The companies on the other hand furD
". sh store for their men to trade at, furn
Is ish them with oil, powder etc., at price
agreed upon from time to time. They ar
be expected to trade at the stores this can
at be questioned, for the mine owner wouli
not build store unless he wanted and ex
I'LL pected the men to trade there. A system
,al of checks are issued to the men from tim
to time stating on the face good for certain
amount, at the proprietors' store This i
Ity is charged to them and taken out of thei
rg pay. This system has caused good dea
30. Of dissatisfaction among the men, but
hasl its advantages and disadvantages
While it is not strictly legal, still as long q
it Is accepted and used we do not Sc
op as its very harmful unless prices are high
iSe or at the company's store than others.
is claimed the companies should pay te
per cent upon the total amount of sue
sh checks issued. At present, ii the miner
as expect to trade principally at the compan
10 stores, the system now in use is conyen
no lent. Strictly speaking the check is a
rs. order upon the designated store good 70
ny the amount named and signed by the com
pany's agent, and charged to the party
is drawn 10 favor. of, no matter who pre-
sents il, and charged to him against hi
tly monthly account OF money due for &C;
es. mined iu that month. The total wor
ire done is stated TO him upon statemer
LIT furnished him by the company few day
4 I. /