Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-03-12
"a DIGGER" DUG

Mr.. Editor In last weeks issue
of the Valley Time, there appeared
a communication, signed "a Digger"
and l must confess that | am rather
astonished to see such an epistle from
the pen of any Homecoming miner, as
I have been led to believe that the
miners of that village were famed for
intelligence.
If"A Digger" stood alone in the
opinions set forth in his letter l
would be the last man to disturb his
convictions, but would say to him
"six days and six nights shalt thou
labor in the bowels of the earth, and
by the sweat of your whole body
shalt thou earn thy daily bread"
with the fright hope in old age Of
receiving the endorsement of coal
corporation for admittance to the
poor-house to receive his bean-soup
as reward for his big digging.
But it seems that he is not the only
individual amongst the intelligent
miners of Georges Creek that holds
his advanced opinions of civilization,
namely, that it is more cars and less
men that is wanted at the mine where
they are employed, that is to better
the condition of the miners Of the
coal region. This opinion is shared
by all that he has conversed with
upon the subject. l hope for the
welfare of the thousands of miners in
this county and elsewhere that his
circle Of friends is limited. l venture
the conjecture that "a Digger" is a
Scotchmsn of the old school that has
inherite his opinions from his fore
fathers in the days of long hours and
big dargs. hope, however, that no
Scotch miner on Georges Creek will
entertain for a moment the idea that
| desire to cast any reflections upon
their country by saying so, for there
is no class of miners in the world today
that knows better the utter absurditY
of such opinions. Experience has
taught them in many well-contested
company in the land Of the hawthorne
and heather, that micro cars never
bettered their condition in the past
nor will do SO in the future.
1t seems there is an institution in
the county, called the Executive
Committee, that says FIVE tons per day
per man is sufficient work. But this
modern philosopher thinks that he
ought to get the liberty of loading Elk
or seven tons when the company
wants it, SO as to keep them from en-
ploying more men. This is sublime
idea, and the sooner the Executive
Committee" adopts it the better, but
l don't for a moment dream that
what he terms the Executive Com
mites" ever did try to stop this
Hercules from loading ten tons if
able. 1t would be interfering with
the private rights of citizen which
the law will not tolerate, and such
an infringement has never been prac-
tised upoh the rights of anyone to my
knowledge. But let me throw out a
suggestion to "a Digger" There
are two mines, namely, the Miller
and Midland, that have not worked
much for several years. Let him
lease one of them for his own special
benefit. There he will be clear of all
bulls issued by Executive Commit
tees" and have free scope for the
exercise of his muscle in true collier
Jack style.
find another advantage the mi
nerS of Georges Greek would have by
adopting the opinions of "a Digger"
namely, they would have better ven
tilation, if one-third of the men were
discharged. Such an idea could only
have originated in the minds of ouch
men as Watt, Stephenson or Fulton !;
tho lees miners employed the less
ventilation is needed sound logic :;
carry out the principle-enploy no
miners and you do not need to ven
tilate your mines. What does In
spector Brown think of this idea in
conpatison with his views and recon-
mendations of ventiloting furnaces,
trap-doors and more crosscuts all
swept away with thu cheaper and
more economical idea of employing
less miners and more cars
Mr.. Editor, 1 am encroaching uron
your space. With your permission,
however, will crack the nut of more