The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-09-21
A Hard Place for Boys.
Life in the Pennsylvania Coal Breakers.

1t Is almost impossible for any one
who has not been an eyewitness to the
operations of the mines to conceive at
what tender years the child in the an
thracite region is put to work, or to
know, unless he has actually in his
younger days been placed in the same
condition as the thousands of boys in
the mining districts, to what pernicious
influences they are subjected. and what
evil consequences ensue. Though it
may appear incredible, it is neverthe-
less fact that children of all ages from
years upward find work in the coal
breakers, and toll in dirt in an atmos-
phere thick with carbon dust from dawn
till dark of every day in the week, Sun
days excepted. These little fellows earn
from so to As cents per day; their labor
consists in picking the slate, rock, ETC., out
of the coal previously crushed to small
pieces III a breaker and screened through
huge revolving screens that separate
the various sizes of coal. From this oc-
cupation, as they advance in years, they
are promoted to mule-driving, and af-
terward, when they arrive at mans es-
tate, to laboring and mining, which is
bilC IAat CIill OC ISetCLSo
by the toiler, whose only companions
through life are men made rough like
himself by their rough surroundings,
and whose only education is that which
he CLEANS from the noisome breaker and
gloomy mine. Here is a wrong cry
ing for redress. Here is an evil that
cannot be remedied too soon, and here
is chance for some Garrison to point
out the fetters that enslave portion of
humanity, and for some Lincoln to
strike from off their limbs those chains
of servitude, and make them free.
Out of this community in the northern
portion OF Luzerne county, which num-
bers about $4,000 people, upward of
5000 boys, whose ages vary from to
10 years, are engaged about the mines.
Having gone to work before they should
have been sent to school in most in
stances, they grow up in utter ignorance,
as it is well known that when they adj
vance in Years, and their labor CORES
pondingly increases in value, they get
but little chance to become educated.
Thus, in this enlightened age, when the
tendency of humanity is upward and
onward, and the benefits of education
penetrating everywhere are extended to
all, society is hampered and the pro-
gressive wheels of civilization are clogged
by culpable ignorance. The citizen is
rendered incapable of intelligently dis
charging his duty as citizen, and the
fact that there is continuous supply of
material for the demagogue to pre-, up-
on, is constant menace to our free in.
stitutions. | have alluded to the perni-
cious influences to which these little
boys are subjected. There are no schools
in the world where more evil is learned,
or more innocence destroyed, than in
the coal breakers. 1t is absolutely
shocking to watch the vile practices in
dulged in by those children, hear the
frightful oaths to which they give ex
preston, and note their total disregard
for religion or morality! Hardened by
exposure to terrible influences, it is hard
" to be wondered at that the demon of
Molly Maguireism and systematized,
cold-blooded murder reared its mon
strous head from out the sinks that sur
round the mines, and maintained its
reign of terror for years.-Pittston lette,
to Philadelphia Press.