The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-03
Colored J,aborers in Iowa.

That our people may know the esteem in
which the colored people of this section, who
emigrated to Muchakinock, Iowa, are held by
those among whom their lot has been cast, we
publish the following letter written by the
President of the Consolidated Coal Company
Nearly all OF the laborers to whom Mr.. Graves
alludes as being located near Oskaloosa, are
from Augusta and Albemarle counties.
4Ir. Graves, in writing to local paper says:
EDTTos DAILY TELEGRAPH have read
the article published by you on the 29th inst.
relative TO the refusal OF the Tennessee negroes
to work in the mines of the Fort Dodge Coal
company.
am director in that company and not its
president.
The SIMPLE facts are that while the white
miners AT Fort Dodge had steady work earned
from three To six dollars per day, and were
contelAed and happy, few men, menlerS of
the Miners Union conceived The ID - of
forcing an advance i'll wages, thinking tg by
reason of the increasing demand for coai the
company would yield to their demands.
The miners demanded an unreasonable adj
vance and the coal company declined to grant
it. The president went to Tennessee and
hired force of negroes to work in the mines.
Reaching Fort Dodge it seems from the pub
strikers ON assurance that such action would
force surrender and give employment to all
at the advance demanded. The negroes, far
from home were simply terrorized and de-
moraized. The statement that they acted on
appeal of the strikers to fight for them as the
strikers had during the rebellion fought for
the negro should be taken cum gran0 salts.
The situation at Fort Dodge proves nothing
as to the capacity or the incapacity OF the ne
hat (Tatnr
mined not to work .emselvas nor allow
others to work. were apparently strong enough
to terr0riZe over the descendants of Ham and
play before them the sad farce OF the dog in
the Manager" In the end these black men will
"hold the fort" when they come to know that
as peaceable, law abiding citizens of Iowa they
are entitled to and Can demand protection
without regard to color or previous condition
of servitude."
Ii you desire to inform your readers as to
the capacity and inclination of the negro to
work and prosper shall be glad to furnish
you with transportation TO the mines OF the
Consolidation Coal company, near Oskaloosa, |
where we have about 600 at work They are
a grand success and have happy homes, a col |
ored school, Methodist and Baptist church,
Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, a fine brass
band, and in fact all the accessories ofcomfort |
1t would amply repay visit to hear them sing |
and Baptist hymns. They cannot be exceled |
These men have worked for us nearly year.
and loaded about two hundred thousand tons |
of coal upon the cars in 1880 Perhaps the
pronounced success which has attended these |
men in contrast with the present situation at |
Fort Dodge is because our superintendent is |
one amongst thousand peculiarly qualified |
to fill the position he occupies. Your state
mfent relative to my position in the Fort |
Dodge Coal company would have been correct
if you had named the Consolidation Coal COM
pany.
You will, l think, agree with me that in this
progressive age it is right that Iowa should |
gladly welcome to her borders those of every |
nation and every climate who seek home
obey the laws and live quiet, orderly lives. If |
a man receives fair wages, fair treatment and |
prompt payment, your spirit of fairness will |
say that while such man may quit work at |
his pleasure and seek to gain advantage from |
the necessities of others he has no right to in |
timidate his fellow man from filling his place |
In nine cases out Of ten these STRIKES" which |
take place in the varied walks of business life |
have no just foundation for existence, but are |
created by few men who hope to live and |
prosper upon the rank and file of their number |
who, left to themselves, would be true to them |
selves and to their employers and Strikes
would become but fragments of history.
Respectfully,
K. GRAVES.