Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-06
THE MARYLAND STRIKE.
The Situation in .the Mountain VII
Iases-Thc Miners Still Firm.

BALTIMORE. April News received in
this section from Cumberland, to the effect
that the Consolidation Coal Company was
making arrangement there for the erection
at Echhart mine of buildings TO accommo-
date the new miners whom they expect TO
put to work at that point, excited much
interest, and a relation of incidents in con-
nection with foamer troubles between the
companies and employees.
One old miner related his experience 10
show how the company had mana6ed the
miners on an occasion similar to ihe pres
ent. He said in the spring OF 1913 the
miners had all come out" and refused to
work, and as consequence the canal was
idle, Is il is at this time, there being no
coal for shipment. The company brought
up force OF boatmen from the canal, with
plenty OF provisions, domiciled them in
some empty houses, and put them at work
were wild set of fellows. and at night
made the neighborhood of their houses
ring with the noises incident TO their fid-
ding, dancing, card-ylaying and rude
sports. There was. however, no dist urb-
ance. The boatmen went into the mines
and worked during the day, shipping as
part OF their product quantity Of refuse
coal left in the mines by the regular miners.
The ruSe, however. he said, had its effect.
The very miners, he said. who insti.
gated the stoppage were the first 10 so into
the mines end resume work, and Of course
by degrees all the others followed. The
boatmen went back to their barges, and the
miners furnished the coal to load their
boats and run the canal rs before. In those
days he added there was no organization,
and miners were not rs wise as in this gen
Grafton. Ii is not generally believed
that the company can get enough
experienced miners 10 run the mine
successfully, and the ordinary miner
who will go into the mines does not know
the risks TO which he will be exposed by
ignorance of the structure OF the walls and
roof of the mines. and what precautions
are required to make them staunCh and
safe. The community here is generally in
favor of the miners getting ~ cents per
ton though the merchants would rather
see them getting ~ cents per ton than ont
Of employment. All the merchants con
tinuc L. give the miners the line oi credit
they Cn joyed before the suspension Of work.
one ui the most Intelligent Ofthc miners
said in the course nI a long conversation:
Few people have any idea Of the hard-
ships of u miner life. After walking, III
some cases. between one and two miles 10
the mouth nf the opening, they have
mile walk underground before reaching
the working chamber. The air in many
cases is not iii for a man 10 breathe, and
where the slope is SO far underground il
would cost the company great deal of
money to ventilate it, and then il could not
he done A. well rs in smaller openings.
The horses and men at work in these mines
speedily consume all the good air. The
men work with pick, Slcdgcs and shOvcls,
dressed in shirts and pants, and frequently
only in pants IT is very laboriOus work
independent OF the foul air and dangers OF
falling coal and rock The only light they
have i a small lamp they wear on the
front of leather cap made without rim
for that purpose The miner digs his coal
At so much per ton. cleans il of all
Impurities, load il into the mine cars.
Which are brought To the face of his
workings by the drivers. After he
load his cars he had to run them back to
the heading track. in some cases n far aS
800 feet. His ''oif-takes,' or what the
company collects from him. are 81 30 or 81
a month for little house. - cents amonth
fora doctor. which is optional, cent per
ton for Smithing, and other small charges
for fuel oil. etc. The result is that he
starvcs from day to day and can hardly
live, at the present rates