The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-08
THE SILVER REEF TROUBLE.
The Miners Version of What
Caused the Strike.
SILVER REEF, Feb. 8, 1881.


mont Company in the Buckeye
Mine, came to the station house for
the purpose Of going to work as usual,
they were informed by the superin-
tendent that hereafter they would
receive only $3.50 per day. The
miners promptly refused to work,
and Immediately returned to town.
A special meeting Of the miners
union was called to decide upon
what course to pursue. About l
o'clock the union adjourned, went to
the Barbee & Walker Compapy's
works, took its members from the
mine, and oil, TO the number of $50.
marched TO the Buckeye, drew the
fires from the engine and closed the
mine, placing q guard over it until
such time ae the men should be paid,
then returned 10 a body to the town.
All this wac done quietly without any
disturbance. Tbs S;ormont Com
psny ia the initial mover in the re-
dsction OF wages, and will likely have
to stand alone, as the other COM
panies continue work as usual. The
cause assigned by the company 10.
reducing wages is that they are run
ming behind in their expenses. This
is undoubtedly true, but it is caused
by Encouragement and not by pay
ing 81 per day to miners. Men who
are sent here by eastern capitalists,
knowing nothing OF mining, to take
charge, and who appoint their
brothers, sons and sons-in-laW az
foremen, ETC., who know equally
little, are very apt to make mistakes
which rebound to the disadvantage OF
owuers. 1t is said that the foreman
OF q certain mine in Silver Reef dur
ing the first month he had charge
caused a loss OF $4,000 to $4,000
by his ignorance of the ores.
The nature Of the rock is
such that only skilled miners
can work to advantage and give sat-
isfAotion to the company. The COM
psny shonld, and certainly must |
know that when men are employed |
who have never been underground, |
they cause more detriment 10 the mine |
than the amount of wages paid them.
They thus cost the mine.owners
three times as much az a skilled
miner. Everyone who has any
knowledge of mining, is well aware
that mel Of inexp3rience cause their
associates trouble, and thus more loss
10 the owners. In the northern
camps, a strong man, regardless Of
knowledge, can take his pick and
shovel and perform as much service
Is the most skilled miner. Bat it lie
lot so here, where all the work is
lone by drilling and blasting. These
acts, however. had no influence with
be superintendent, who was working
more for his own than the comp2ny's
ntereEts. He was taking such 8
course as would naturally incense all
lonest miners, finally bringing the
natter to focus.
But what led to the reduction OF
wages more than all else, was BUSH
lees the superintendent engaged in,
which be could not conduct and also
i've his attention to the proper mar
cement OF the mine. He built q
oarding house near the mine, and |
xpeot.d all the men in the COM !
any's employ to board there. Free ;
uently men who were thorough
miners, but who did not board at the 4,
house." were discharged 70 make >
pom for some inexperienced person '
wing a board bill. If any man was s
as to be discharged, it was not a r
Osrde-. II anyone wss employed, :
9 must be bosrder. Out of 100 =
len employed by the company. 160 r
ere "bosrders," and less than 100 q
ere competent miners. In fact, the a
lines were worked for the good of -
lie company only so far it couduced r
} the interests OF said boarding house. -
be miners did the labor, the board
g house get the money, and the
ockholders get the glory OF knowing
e mines still belong to them. n
This vas all well enough so long as RI
did not conflict with the interests of fe
e union; but when the owners COM
aimed that the mines we're not pay le
& and ordered wages to be cut down, in
g miners considered the time had ar
rived for the investigation OF mat
re- ruinous to the company and in
lich they could not obviats. Had in
2 reduction been successful the Te
ne proceedings would be continued
d no one can tell where it would Dr.
d. 81
The union numbers about $40 n,
who are not ofthe maraud-
: element, but men of education Ed
j good sense. They have fully ba
upon course 10 pursue
] will hold to it though the heavens ex
|. It is not the intention to do any in
ng Instantaneous to tle com vu
ny aoy farther than such SIS may
necessary in the protection of Their
hts. Could il be shown that the
nes were not actually paying and
t it was through no mismaoege ash
ut, the miners would not take the st
Irse they are now taking as regards Ing
reduction in their wages. The wa
re, however, was never in better boo
dition and il properly conducted a T.
I'D pay more dividends in the -
Ire than ever before. The other
lpGnies have informed the union
wages will not be reduced nor
men be employed who are not
able of earning 81 per day. We TC
lot wish to cast stigma upon any d.
but simply show the facts, let % 20
. the public decide who are wrong. of /
rest indignation is felt here psn
srd the Tribune for making state my
its few days since in sn editorial ritol
On were entirely uniounded. 1t A. a:
q insult aud an injury to the Us Us
lie com nunity to assume that the me
ority OF miners here are murder the
incendisries, ETC.; that the man xhi,
g are In momentary danger OF OctC
and the town in constant dread ssld
conhagrstion. There is no such SS,ep'
lent here. There is not more Sm -
t and businsss-hke camp in Utah, 'i'
50 perintendent has been or will B
killed, in the manner limited by JAM