The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-20

Tho Views of Leading Coal Operator on
the Demand

| the Demand.
In labor circles the coal diggers' strike
inaugurated about ten days sincc, and
which has grown to rather formidable pro
portions, is leading topic Of conversa.
tion. AnIxrELLIoEScER reporter happen.
ing to meet a leading coal operator yester.
day, asked him this question: "What
effect will the present strike OF the coal
miners have, IL any, on business in this
vicinity?'
"Aluch depends on how 1t ia settled"
he answered. Continuing, he said: "0ur
manufacturers, SlRsshcuss and rolling
mill people are laboring under great dis
advantage now, because OF the cost OF
their fuel. This Is the age Of cheap fuel
The discovery OF natural gas in and around
Pittsburgh has enabled the manufacturers
there to get an advantage over our people
they never bad before. Should this strike
end in a victory for the miners it will add
materially to the cost OF the already dear
fuel in use in these industries, notwith-
standing the fact that the miners who dig
the coal used by them are better paid now
for their work than the miners are any,
where in any Of the districts surround
ing us.
"Why 80? Because of the difference
between mining by weight and measur-
ing. Coal is dug everywhere except here
by weight; 3 cent by Weights cheaper
and better than cent coal by MEASURE.
Why is this? Why the miner, who in
digging by weight carefully looks after his
room keeps il to Its proper width, "a feet,
thereby leaving the full six foot of solid
coal in the rib between him and his next
neighbor, and keeps it well post'd to pre-
vent this much talked OF crush coming on
to enable him TO make batter weight.
"Wheeling miners who have always
dug by car measure do just the other
thing. Th:y gouse tho iib away until
there il no solid coal left In hold the
weight, and OF course the crush comes,
making very poor coal for the operator,
but very easy work for the miner, as the
crushing process digs much OF his coal for
him" s4.
as Wheeling coal moro liable to crush
than other coal?"
"Not necessarily 30 If it is properly
worked"
: "You satd 1t was matter OF necessity
to dig by weight; why is it?"
"We can't compete and hold our market
otherwise; those who get coal dug by
weight have such an advantage over US
that they can pay freight and uldersell
besides. Digging by weight enables them
TO make better quality OF coal. Our
miners when digging by meaSure have no
incentive TO make good coal; an inferior
article pays as well or better. Anything
out OF the bank will fll up no matter
whether it will sell or not. II It won't sell
the operator can throw it away when he
is loading, forall the miner cares. II one,
two or more bushels are thrown away out
OF each car that comes from the bank,
what IN alters 1t to the miner? He is paid
for it all the same and gets TO gil just that
much more in lis place."
This all applies to peddling banks;
! don't see how the manufacturers will
BIZ atfectad?'
"Ot course II the miners succeed in get
ting their demand Of 9 cent? per busnei
the mill digSers will at once make simi.
lar demsud; they are now paid about l
81 100 cents for digging. You can thus
see how they will be affected. Take for
instance the Whitaker mill-theis coal is
costing at present rates for mining alone
between $50 and $50 daily; il that coal
was dug by weight and the highest price
pail for It that Is paid over in the Ohio
district, or up on the B. 4 o or Pan Han.
die roads, the mill would get better coal
and having a swing in cost Of not less
than 80 per cent or say SIS per day on
a $50 run; an item Of say 5000 per an.
mum II the mill should.run one year full
time.
"Yes, the coal minaris poorly paid so
is everyone that ha7 to work for living in
these hard times. ] regret it IS much a.
anyone, and would bs glad to seq miners
make big wages. l would pay it to them
cheerIullv il II was in the business, but 1t
is not. Wheeling operators nor Wheeling
miners are not responsible for this state OF
things; We are only yielding now when
We can't do anything else; We must yield
or give up our market to others, let the
owls and bats take possession Of our mines
and miners go elsewhere for work"
H