The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-26
CORRESP0 P0NDENGE.

Clara DIXON DAVIDSON.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The whole story.
Editor LAB6R ENoUIRER.
Canon CRY Coal FIELDS, July 90.-
That the existing troubles Of the Rock
vale mines may be better understood by
you, Mr.. Editor and all interested in the
ever abused miners of here and else-
where. Abrief sketch of the history Of
the mines in this county and the men
who manage them may not be out OF
place.
In the spring Of 1874 George Haddon
came to manage the Coal Creek mine. he.
found it in very bad condition and the
miners very much dissatisfied; by his
thorough knowledge Of mining and his
good Judgment. the position he took
between the company and the, miners
was Of such character that peace and
harmony prevailed. We will here cite
an instance as proof of what ave have
said In the year 1875 the company
asked 25 cents per ton reduction Had
don ssrenuously opposed it and advised
the company that the reduction asked
would put wages below living rates. A
IT, :. r.
committee was appointed by the miners
to approach the president Of the conn
pany and after arguing their cause
matters were amicably and satisfactorily
adjusted.
Where the greatest amount of skill,
economy and good judgment prevails in
mining coal it brings the largest profits
| to the operators, and where the opposite
is the case. IN order that the operators
will get their per cent, the sequence is,
the managers fall back upon the miner
and cut his wages.
This. to some extent, is the secret OF
the harmony and peace that prevailed
in Coal Greek for the six years preceding
1882 (the year in which red tapeism was
inaugurated, of which more will be said
further ON. In the eighth year OF
Haddon's administration any troubles
that arose we're peacefully and equitably
settled. Now, we as miners, know that
the Canon City Coal company's managers
cannot point to such a record. Inasmuch
as they are not efficient managers and
the company's property is not taken care
ofin the minea, coal is lost, rails are lost,
ties, spikes and posts are lost, and fre-
quently pit cars are lost. The mines are
not laid out right, their system of long
wall working is SO imperfect that the
entries are continually caving in, making
the mines very expensive.
If they succeed in forcing the miners
to concede to the reduction it will pay
for the destruction Of property by those
Ignorant managers, that know more
about Pennsylvania political wire pulling
than the science of coal mining and
mining engineering.
There are large number Of men here
.who havehelped to develop this western
country. fight the savages and 4paye the
way to civilization; these early pioneers
and those of US that came later have had
8 few years peace; but now we have TO
buckle on our armor and fight the Saw
ages again. +
| In theyear of our Lord 1882, in those
two coal corporations the big fish ate up
the little ones, consequently they became
more aristocratic and created some more
higher offices; among these offices was
superintendent in chief, or general
manager of the coal department. This
office is never captured by merit or
ability, it is generally filled by some
relative or friend of some one in higher
office that has more CUTS than brains.
This official is more ornamental than
useful, his duties consists in sitting in
the head Office issuing mandates, circu-
lars and rules and regulations to govern
the miners, at the same time stretching
forth his mighty hand telling them the
consequence if they do not obey, and
bulldozing everybody subordinate to
him.
The two brutes that fill those respect
i've positions for the Canon City Coal
company and the Colorado Coal and
Iron company are Brute Savage and
Brute Cameron. Those two brutes have
entered into compact that neither one
shall hire each others employees when
they are on strike, consequently the
Rockvale men cannot get work at the
Colorado Coal and Iron company 'smines.
This is an eastern practice imported by
the brutes and for the first time put into
force in Colorado.
The causes that led to the Rockvsle
strike are; on the first oI.April (all fools.
day as your correspondent "Hail Col
umbian truthfully remarks, a new super
intendent was appointed /; he is dys-,
peptic nonenity whose skull can be
penetrated by the bill of a mosquito he
is Savage brother of the brute Savage,
and very accurate pen picture of him
was given by your correspondent, Hail
Columbia, ," in your last issue his In
formation on managing mines begins and