The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-08
MINING TROUBLES
Statement From the Manager Of the
wheeling Creek Coal Company.

BRIDGEPORT, o., Noyember7, 1880.
To the Editor Of The Wheeling Daily Intligen
Ger:
DEAR slR:-The following article ap-
peared In the Wheeling NrsH Litter Of this
morning:
COAL WORKS CLOSED, AND OVER A HUNDRED
MEN THROWN OUT OF EMPLOYMENT.
Work has been suspended at the Wheel
ing Greek Coal Works, on the Tuscarawas
Valley railroad, two miles west OF Bridge
port, and large number OF men are
thrown out OF work in consequence. The
cause Of this suspension, as explained to
Us last night by one Of the operatives, Is
as follows:
Mr.. Patterson, the general Superintend.
emit, some days since, removed Mr.. May
berry, the mine boss, and placed another
man in that position. The men had al
waysgot along pleasantly under the former,
but the new boss was 10 domineering In
his treatment Of the miners that they re-
solved to complain 10 headquarters. They
held meeting yesterday week, drew up
petition asking that Mr.. Mayberry be
reinstated, which was signed by $50 men,
and forwarded 1t to Mr.. Bags, the super.
iniendent OF the TusCarawHs Valley rail.
road. BY some means Mr.. Patterson be.
came advised OF their action, and on Mou.
day last he called the Iniuers together and
informed them that the works would be
shut down and might not start again for
six months. BY this action about one
hundred and twenty men are thrown out
OF work and serious loss to the railroad
company will accrue.
The miners a:c in hopes that q full in
vestigation OF the matter will be given by
the officers OF the road, in which case they
are confident they will come out oil right.
They claim to have the sympathy OF all
the citizens Of Bridgeport and thesurround-
ing country who are acquainted with the
facts and the cause OF the lockout.
As the statement is calculated TO do the
company las well as myself injustice re-
specially ask you to allow me to give
through your valuable paper the other
side OF the story In a plain, unVarnished
statement.
The mines were opened ready 10 ship
coal about the middle OF August MIR.
Mayberry, who the miners want as Super
intendent does not claim to have any
experience in mining, aud as the company
expected TO do large business they felt
it was 10 their interest to secure the ser
vices Of an experienced man to direct the
working OF the came on large scale.
Sir. Mayberry and Mr.. Baggs both under.
stood this and Mayberry expressed himself
time and again that 1t would
be satisfactory to him-lhat he was will
ing to remain and do such duties as might
be put upon him from time 10 time.
There was no intention OF disCharging him,
and II the miners had taken the trouble. to
ask they would have known better. May
berry did tell the miners he was satisfied.
That the public may see this matter in its
true light, will say that when the bank
opened in August the miners were to re
ceive sixty cents per ton. They worked
about ten DAYS aud complained that 1t was
not enough. The company then agreed
to pay them seventy cents ton and dated
il back TO the tirsldr y they had mined coal.
Our busiaess went along smoothly until
the latter part Of September, at which
time q committee OF miners came out and
demanded an advance in the price Of min
ing. said to them we could not advance
at that time. Without moments notice
thew all came out on a strike, and dis
arranged our business. In q few days a
committee waited on me and made state.
ment that the EN- had been hasty-that
they had been led away by lot OF tramp
miners-that they wanted to 60 To work
again. said TO them they could so back,
provided they would agree to give me two
weeks notice before another strike. The
General Manager was present, and told
them the next time they concluded TO
strike he did not want any committee TO
come 10 him-that the company would
close the mine.
On the 10Th OF October the company
employed J. E. Waters 10 take charge oil
the running OF the mine with full control
over all employees. MIR. Waters came here
without any knowledge OF who had been
running the mine, did not dream there
was any controversy about his position.
On the 10Th called the committee out
aud told them MIR. Waters had recon-.
mended that we give them an advance,
making mining Is ceats per ton.-that II
they would work until spring without any
more lockout ] would pay it. The result
was that they were willing 10 take the adj
vance, but would not agree 10 work any
stated time. gave 1t to them. All was
working well so far as outward appear
ances went. But ten days has
passed and another lockout has taken
place. October 30th paper was signed
asking that Mayberry be replaced In the
same position that he formerly occupied.
l called meeting for Monday, November
/, TO explain 10 the men that May berry was
not going TO be discharged, thinking that
when they understood the true state OF
the case they would he satisfied and 10 to
work. Mr.. Baggs made q statement to
them to this effect. Instead OF accepting
the statement made In good faith they in.
creased their demands. Their proposition
was, that Mayberry be appointed General
Superintendent, with power to hire and
discharge all employees that Mr.. Brooks
should be bank boss and receive his orders
that through Maybery. Tie miners were
willing Mr. Waters should remain about
the works (but did not state IN what ca.
pacity) provided be received his orders
through the man they selected to fill the
position Of Superintendent.
For the purpose OF testing the matter, l
asked them whether, in case Mr.. Waters
was sent away and another man brought
there, would they be satisded2 The an
swer was, No. then proposed, as last
resort to get them 10 work, that II they
would go 10 work, would lay the matter
before the general officers OF the company.
This nrob0Rition thew refused, and voted
to man not 10 work unless their demands
had been complied with. This ended the
conference. They quit work, and by so
doing, have done ali in their power to in.
lure the business Of the company. The
public can Judge who IL to blame for one
hundred ard twenty men being out Of
The men discharged them.
selves, and the company paid them oil
without waiting for the regular payday.
JAMES PATTERSON, Manager.
OVER THE RIVER.