Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-08-05

Last FRIDAY two drummere came
into this county from Eckhart miners
drumming up the idle boatmen ana
farm hands and any one that they
could get to 80 to Eckhart to work.
One would 80 around and talk to the
men and boys Of the peighborhood
and direct them to go to certain
point at stated time. There they
would meet the other agent who
would tell them he would insure them
three dcllars per day at first and sitter
working week or SO they could make
seven or eight dollars per day. l
could not in an hour mention all the
golden promises offered these men.
The main argument was that the old
miners had come to the conclusion 10
emigrate west, as they saw the COM
panies were bound not to give 65
cents; therefore they would leave be-
fore they would WORK for less and had
so notified the companies, and the
operators were compelled to get new
men. These men held meetings at
different points and unfolded the OBJ
ect of their mission; they had this
part of the county terribly excited
over the affair and nine men out of
ten had made up their minds to go to
the Georges Greek coal region and get
rich. There is place here called
"Pig- Skin Ridge" where old settlers
still vote for General Jackson on cleo
ton day, whose simple folks were
worked on and told the grand things
that were in store for them at Eek
hart, and had them converted to go
with them, for three or seven dollars
per day was big thing in their eyes
as this is more than than they could
make here in a week or two. | hap
pened to bs present at some of the
places where these people would meet
the agents; could hear all that was
said, and it was surely flattering.
Tuesday, the 25th, was the day fixed
for all they had seen to meet at the
station to go TO Eckhart. They had
a hundred and fifty names or 50 on
their books that they were sure would
meet them. But some of the hard
headed boatmen here got around
among the men and told them the
true state of affairs at Eckhart, which
put them to studying. When the APP
pointed time came yesterday there
were twenty-seven men and boys who
made their appearance at the railroad
station.
I notice the Cumberland Tunes Of
to-day says many of those men from
Washington county were miners 1t
made mistake; there was only one
miner, two boatmen, some wood-chop-
pers, farmers sons and SO on. |
know every one Of them personally
and must say out of the twenty-seven
only two are good citizens or reliable
men; their action was condemned by
all the reliable people around here.
| heard man remark to-day chat
for once this district could say all the
scoundrels had left it and hoped they
would keep on and not come back
The train stopped here and took on
those twenty-seven. On the same
train was carload of foreigners for
Eckhart. There is a mal here yet
trying to hire men to go to Eckhart
and Hoffman mines also one in the
lower part Of the county.
They say here they do not want
any more Swedes, the intention being
to fill up the Consolidation mines with
Americans out of this State and Vir-
ginia, and agents are now here and
In ether parts for that purpose, |
don't think they will get many more
from Washington county, as moot of
the men I hear speak of the matter
are opposed to any outsider meddling
in the present contention between the
old miners and the operators. The
Cumberland Times need not Drag of
the men and experienced miners they
got out OF Washington county yester-
day, for l saw them start and am
personally acquainted with every
one Of them and can truthfully say
only two are able bodied men many
OF them are boys some real old men (;
others professional buns that never
would work any place. This is the
quality Of the twenty-seven that left
hare. Still, they are taking the
places of just that many good, honor
able, iaW-abidinp men. and volunteer