The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-24
THE BLACK COUNTRY.
Organizer Tells the Sights he Saw
There. Bead this and Ponder
Omit.
Editor Labor ENQUIRER.

Editor Labor Enquirer.
GUNN1soN, Colo, May 20.-As my busi-
ness necessitated a trip through the coal
fields of Gunnison and Fremont coun-
ties, it might not be uninteresting to
some of the readers of our labor paper.
to briefly state such matters of interest
as came under my observation.
When the coal, that indispensable
product of labor, is delivered by the
transfer wagon to the door of. the
preacher, lawyer, banker, or Goldfish aris-
tocrat, it is nearly impossible for any of
them to form an idea of the toll, risks,
sacrifice and .drudgery experienced by
those engaged in mining it, thousands of
feet from the pure fresh air and sunlight
the only two things mans greed has
been unable to corner, monopolize and
give title deed to. In fact, the MAJORITY
of the parties referred to hardly ever
stop to think how any kind of wealth is
produced. Few ever think that every
ton of coal is brought from the bowels of
the earth at sacrifice of life, limb or
health. But in order to enlist the SYM
pathy of the unthinking, selfish public
for these coal miners it would be neces-
sary to show them the funeral procession
of widows and orphans following to the
graveyard the charred remains of the
fifty-eight husbands, brothers or sons
who were murdered in the Crested
Butte mines lately, or the hundred
burned to death in the regent Pocahon-
tas massacre, or show them the hundreds
of those disabled for life with broken
arms or legs; but we won't go to that
trouble as we have reason to believe it
would benefit nothing. We know the
grievances ourselves; we know also that
redress will only come from those ag-
grieved.
About p. m. the train arrived at
Florence station on the Denver and Rio
Grande, about three miles from Rock
vale, where l arrived on foot after mar
row escape from prairie dogs and other
wild animals. In the Coal Creek region,
which includes Rockvale and Oak Creek,
there are six mines working Two are
owned by the Colorado Coal and Iron
company three by the Canon City Coal
company, and the Colorado Coal and Oil
company own one located at Coal Creek.
Mine No, l, of the Colorado Coal and
Iron company employs about l40 men,
who at present make from $40 to $50 per
month. They receive 81 per ton of 2.400
pounds of rake coal. No. 2, of same
company are working about three to
four days per week. There is bad air in
both of these mines, which means asth-
ma and consumption. Drivers receive
S275, Iaborers in mine $3.50, outside
hands 50, per day. No check-weighman
is allowed on the premises.
In No. /. of the Canon City Coal com
pany the price Is ST % per ton of 2,4O0
pounds, slack and coal The vein will
average three feet in height 50 per yard
is paid for brushing. The mine worked
eight days in April. IN No. 3, of the
same company 81 per ton is paid. The
coal is five feet in height and mostly
blasted from the solid. This mine
worked two weeks in April. No. 4, of
this company worked eleven days in
April; price 81 .25 per ton and $1.5O per
yard for brushing The mine is well
ventilated.
In the Garfield mine of the Colorado
Coal and Oil company there IS difficulty
at present between the miners and the
company. The latter offers $1.25 per ton
of 2,4OO pounds, clean coal, and no pay
for brushing; while the men demand
$l25 per ton, slack and coal, and pay for
brushing. A strike now exists.
While it will be seen from the figures
given above that the men in this region
don't average very big wages, want to
call attention to one thing in particular
which attracted my attention that is,
that four-ffths of the miners own their
houses. There are few tenement-houses
and little demand for any. This is &C
counted for from the fact that large
portion of the land is free to an extent,
being in litigation, and no one being
able to give clear title deed. The min
ers now hold it by the only just title to
land-that of occupancy.
When, by the light of intelligence, the
justness of that title is acknowledged
throughout the world and the mass of
mankind enabled to dwell in happy
homes of their own, then will we have
leisure to listen to the men of religion,
science and art; but the struggle for
bread and rent-money occupies all our
time and attention at present.
1t was my pleasure to meet in Coal
Creek large number of good and true
men, some of whom l would like to
make personal mention Of, but know
too we'll that coal companies have no
particular regard for such obnoxious,
discontented kickers, who would actually
object to digging $500 pounds of coal for
ton, and 1 know a mention of their
names here would, be poor consolation
after they had received tie pass.
Leaving Coal Creek, l next arrived in
Crested Butte, where, with much reluct-