The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-24
LIFE IN THE COAL REGIONS.
THE CHANGES THAT TEN YEARS HAVE
MADE IN WTLkESB1RRE
Hungry Mems Bitterness Intensined by the
Incendinry Words Of Dcmngogues-Toueh-
InR the bottom OF Financial Distress.


inR the Bottom OF Financial Distress
WILKEsBARRE, Pa. March PA score
OF years ago the wealth OF wilkcsbarre was
proverba; farms that had been only indifrer-
entity productive were found to be underlaid
with deposits of coal. and their acres increased
in value from tens to thousands. As develop
ment went speculation began. and real values
were mHgnined u hundred fold. until the value
OF the Wyoming Valley could hardly have been
reckoned greater had ii been Overlaid with gold.
Tho war-that gave fictitious values TO many
things-gave fictitious values to coal lands and
city lots and real estate of every description
rose to prodgious prices. Companies were
formed. savings we're invested. and in the popu-
lar mind the Midas touch was everywhere.
Combinations of railway companies and coal
companies were formed. and there wns n hey
day OF money making. In those times miners
who earned 50 n day were not thought to be
particularly prosperous. and money being
plenty. they were improvidcnt and careless.
OF course the shock of coming back TO an hon
est and intrinsic basis was inevitable and it
has come. No stronger contrast could be fur
nshed to the student Of political economy than
the situation here in go and that of to-day.
In the days OF Nilkesbarre's prosperity rcsi-
deuccs were erected in the town To which the
adjective uaatial was correctly applicable Life
was at its flood tide, and eNtravagance of living
WIS lilt fnlt. Mtn Tttktufu tntlf future IN
come on the basis Of exceptional prosperity
and when there was a return to the ordinary
and Legitimate course Of business, failures
were inevitable. One fortune crumbled with
the ruin of another. One does not need very
long memory 10 recall the failures Of Bennett
Broderick otEi Co.. and d oRcri R%' who "2ls RSes
figured in the bankrupt list. The reaction
II terrible: houses that cost 500 OOp cannot find
purchasers at 100000. and men have sold real
estate for half it, cost because of their inability
to nay the taxes. 70 add to the distress. or
rather. perhaps. an equal cause Of II. the coal
COMPANIES have lost their heads in vain compe-
tition. and mines could not be- worked with
proht ut such prices ~ the coal rings have made
imperative. whole mining population has
been kept at starvation wages, while various
combinations OF capitalists have been fghting
for monopoieS. Dissatisfaction and riot have
been the result on the part of the laborcrs loss
ON tho part OF the owners and the country nt
large has gained less in the low prices than 1t
has lost IN the waste OF n valuable product.
Mr.. =. NJ Williams. Mine lnspector for the
Middle District of Luzerne and Carbon COun-
coal mined last year was sold at u loss Of a
dollar per ton; thus showing loss in round
numbers " 500 600 OOn 90 an area containing
900 600 inhabitants. being an average loss of
500 TO every person: for these losses must
come home directly or Indirectly TO all who nud
livelihood hercabOuts. This loss is ruinous 20
mine owners and lessees. who mine ~ little
coal rs they pOssby can and keep their work
ing forces on the ground. Ii Is an exceptional
thing TO fnd u mine worked more than three
quarters time. even with reduced force Of
workmnn. Out ot hity breakers eighteen are
more than 1000 men in three years. and the
production of coal last year WIS reduced 40S2.-
3t2 tons from the year previous. Aud yet with
n. this reduction OF productive forces coal is
still sold In the market ~ a loss.
or course. this state of things cannot last. and
there are already signs OF u change. With the
waking up Of the manufacturing industries of
the country. there Is TO be- an increased demand
for coal The natural laws of trade must. In
course Of time. overpower the most powerful OF
the companies and the great veins OF supply
will break through the dams OF monopoly and
How again in their legitimate channels To the
great ocean OF demand.
In the meanwhile the miners have learned
how 20 stHrvc-nOt cheerfully but with curses
on their lips and anger in their hearts. They
denouncc all companies .owners lessres agents
and spectators. under the generic name of
capital Tncv see the abundant coal. tho wide
market. on on" hand; and ON tho other they
i""l themselves hungry and naked. while cor
porations underseu each other. In uuwarrant-
able efforts 10 get control Of tho market Mrn
who see their children hungry are not likely
TO be phllOsophic. They are desperate.