Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-13

The Situatiom.-The miners at thu
Big Vein mine at Window eek Gar
DEM struck Thursday of last week tc
secure pay for the actual weight Of
coal mined, instead of by cars, sup.
posed to hold two tons as at present
After remaining out two or three days
most of the men went to work under
the old conditions.
The koontz miners appealed to In
spector Sheridan to aid them in secur-
ing the return of the scales from the
dump to the mine. That official adj
dressed letter under date of the Sth
inst. to Duncan Sinclair, superintend
ent of the New Central company, as
follows:
Dear Sir: My attention has been called to
the removal of the mine car scales at Koontz
mine from the head of the plane to the dump
house, about two and one-quarter miles from
the mouth of the mine and also that this re-
moval is the cause of the present strike or
suspension of work at Koontz mine. After
a careful examination of the facts and a con-
sultation with the States Attorney, have
decided that the removal of the scales is I'M
just to your employees and violation of the
mining laws Of Allegany and Garrett coun-
ties. In the first place it is an infraction of
the 18th and 18th sections of the mining law,
which require the company to provide correct
and accurate scales whereon all the coal min
ed shall be weighed before being taken from
the mining cars. Much coal is shaken off the
cars in the transit over the plane and tram
road, and all the coal is not weighed before
being taken from the mining cars.
In the second place it is further infraction
of the law in this that the law requires the
weigh-master to keep list of the cars weigh
ed in some place where the miners interested
may inspect it daily. Now with the scales at
the dump-house, two and one-quarter miles
from the head of the plane (the only point
that is practically accessible to all your min
crs) this clause is in effect rendered null and
void.
In view of the above facts, l must, as in
spector Of mines, order you to remove the
scales from the dump-house and replace them
at or near the mouth of the mine. Very
respectfully yours,
DENNIS SHERIDAN, K. c.,
Inspector Of Mines.
Mr.. Sinclair replied next day:
Dear Sir: Yours of the Sth is received in
which you express the opinion that the re-
moval Of the mine scales at Keontz to the
dump is violation of the mining law and
order me to restore them to their former po-
sition. There is nothing in the law, as in
terprct it, which compels me to locate the
scales at or near the mouth of the mine. The
language of the law is in section ID as follows:
lind be 1t enacted, That it shall be the duty
OF every person or body corporate operating
a mine or mines in either of said counties as
owner, lessee or agent, to provide correct and
accurate scales for weighing the coal mined
therein before the same shall be taken from
the mine cars used by the miners therein
l have also looked through the law in vain
for the authority which gives you the right to
''order'' me to locate the scales at any specific
place. In reference to your comment on the
injustice done to our employees by the re-
moval of the scales, have to say that | can
not see that any injustice will follow. l de-
cided upon the removal of the scales to avoid
a considerable loss entaied by careless load
ing of mine cars on the part of many of our
miners. The miners have it in their own
power to avoid any loss in transportation to
the dump if they will carefully load and not
overload the mine cars. As to the list of
weights required to be posted daily there is
nothing to prevent the miners from examin-
ing them at the dump as we'll as at or near
the mouth Of the mine. l am surprised at
the position taken by you with reference to
the removal Of our scales to the dump, when
to your knowledge and to that Of all interest
ed in the region there are other companies
who have their scales located at their respec-
tive dumps, and whose dumps are reached in
like manner as ours over both planes and
tram-roads, while no effort has been made by
you to compel any one of them to place their
scales at the mouth of their respective mines.
Feeling confident that l am right in the
position assumed by me, and that no injustice
will be done our employees by the change in
the location Of the scales, / must respectfully
decline to comply with your order to restore
them to their former position. Yours truly,
DUNCAN SINCLAIR,
General Superintendent.
The miners resumed work Wednes-
day at the suggestion, it is said, of the
Inspector, who purposes testing the
validity of the law at the next term of
Court. His object was to have the
company violate the law so that case
might be made up for adjudication.
Breuitfes.-The best flour made by
the r. D. johnson milling company,
of Cumberland, is about the finest
that comes to this market. We have
not tried all of the various brands of
the ''best," but we are morally certain
Johnson's cannot be beaten.
Good Intent Lodge, l. O. G. T., Of