Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-29
WEST VIRGINIA MINERS.
Grossly Misrepresented by Those Or
ganS of Monopoly, the Pittsburgh
Telegraph and wheeling inteiiigen-
eer-The Labor Tribune's Advice.

To The Editor National Labor Tribune, PittSbur9.
COAL VALLEY, w. Va, July 2f.-
With YOUR permission l will give your
many readers true account Of the po-
sitiou of the miners of the Kanawha
valley, which has been so grossly mis-
represented by the Pittsburgh Tele-
graph and the Wheeling Intelligencer.
These papers gave a glowing account OF
the mines in general, and stated that
the coal was from four to six feet high
aud that miners were getting from six
to eight cars per day. This, | say, is
false hood. In the first place, the gas
coal varies in height, and as a general
rule has band of slate of from two to
eighteen inches in the middle Of the
coal, and from six to eight inches of
hard coal Oh the top. This hard coal
must be picked out and thrown aside,
and the miners have to wait for an
order from the company to load 1t,
which may not be given once In two
mouths. The slate must also be picked
out clean, and if by chance you load
either a piece Of slate or piece OF hard
coal YOU are locked ten hundred weight
for each Offeuse! To mention this fact
would not suit the columns OF
either Of the other papers. They also
stated that this valley was running
steadily when they could get cars. They
should have said that the general run OF
the valley was but half time, and it IS in
the same condition at present, with
very few exceptions. l epphatlcally
say that the miners of this valley have
not earned fifty cents day, clear OF all
expenses, and yet We are told
by these capitalistic papers that
we are making from four to
five dollars day! This might
| be done were we to work the days there
is a goOdIy number of cars to load make
a rush for one day, the miner to do
nothing else but load for that one day.
But the balance OF the week he might
not get more than two cars day. But
| to Ia Ike the average work of the miners
for the summer and let them get steady
work they will not average more than
three cars day. Then we have sick
ness ana hurts to contend with, and de-
duct all our idle time from all
causes and l say that one dollar day,
gross, will be very close 10 the average
wages. There may be some pets who
who have made more in entries and
air courses, for these worthless have Il
tree turn, and OH payday run around
blowing about their good pay, never
taking into consideration that they are
robbing their fellow men of what right
fully belongs to them.
Such is the state of affairs in this val
ley, and there are all appearances of its
beiIg worse. There is no use i'll talking
to such men, forthe poor blind creatures
do not see the precipice that they are
drifting on to, and the voice of the pen
or the tongue of man is of no avail
with these creatures. To hear some OF
them blow what they would do, when
they get drunk, If you were not ac-
quainted with them would cause you
to think they were angels. But actions
speak louder than words, and
hades is paved with good intentions.
Gentle reader, remember that good in
tentiorS are of no use if they are not put
INTO operation, and we can either help
or ruin ourselves, so choose between
them before 1t is to late, and remember
that "united we stand, divided we fall"
Yours, TRAMP.
The great trouble is that men patron
ize those papers which habitually mis-
represent them in preference to those
giving them the truth and having a
kind word of sympathy for Them in all
their troubles. A sweet smile and
plausible story goes a great way with
some men. The devil is said to have
winning ways and sweet smiles for his
victims, and these papers are the devil
in this instsnce.-EDs. LABOR TRI-
BCNE.