Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-01-10
SIXTY CENTS PER TON.
The Decision of Juds &c Thurman as to the
Miners Wages

Miners Wages
COLUMBUS, January 8.-Judge Thur,
man, who was selected by the coal miners
and operators of the State as umpire in the
arbitration as 10 the price to be paid for
mining coal for the next year, yesterday
submitted his decision, as follows:
have given to this subject the most care.
ial consideration that could bestow upon
it, and have arrived at a conclusion that
will proceed to state. Before doing so,
however, it is proper, in justice to all con
cerned and to myself, to say that have
been much embarrassed by what seems 10
me material deficit OF proofs. The tee
timony taken is very valuable as far as it
goes but | cannot but think that the proof
is wanting upon several points. But, as
| understand the duties of an umpire, |
can look only at the testimony that was
before me and had been submitted to me,
and to other facts of such historical or
general notoriety that courts eX olhco take
notice OF, and which, therefore, are pre-.
sumed to have been considered.
| shall not, in this paper, 20 into q de-
tailed examination or statement Of the
testimony Ii is unnecessary 10 do SO
My duty is simply to decide. To make
on elaborate argument is no part of IT,
1t is sufficient for me 10 say that | have
carefully read and reread the evidence.
and believe that | understand ard remem
Der it. The question under consideration
is thus stated in the letter of Messrs. Nc.
Blide and Merrick;
The question, as We understand it, be.
ing, can the operators OF the two districts
pay the advance asked aud compete with
other districts?'
The form of this question seems plainly
to imply that the wage demanded by the
miners is not unreasonable if the opera
tors can pay it and compete with other
districts II they can do so, then it seems
10 be admitted that
1T OUGHT TO BE P-Ip.
If they cannot do so then it seems to be
taken for granted that it must be denied.
The question is thus limited 10 al inquiry
into the effect that an advance in wages
such as ia demanded would have on the
power Of the mining districts under con-
sideration to compete with other districts /.
What are the other districts here referred
to the question does not state. Of course
all the mining districts of the United
States are not meant, for that would be
an absurd proposition. There are districts
with which yours cannot possibly compete
in various markets, and which, on the 9th
e: hand, Cannot possibly compete with
yours in what may be called your markets.
1t seems to me that in order TO ascertain
what are "the other districts referred to
in the question we must inquire what are
the natural markets, 30 10 speak, of the
Ohio Central and Hooking Valley districts
BY natural markets mean those
places in which the coal of those two dis /.
pricts can be sold at prices that will pay
fair wages to the miners and reasonable /.
profit TO the operators. Other places can .
not properly be called natural markets Tor .
these Goals. A market may, indeed, be .
forced for time in another place by re.
duction of miners wages or operators
profits, or both, but such an experiment
must, in the nature Of things, if carried so /
far as to deprive the miners of fair wages
or the operators Of reasonable profits, be
abnormal, and, in the end, intolerablc.
Now, with this idea Of what constitutes
O natural market let US ask what is the
natural market of the Ohio Central and
Hooking Valley districts. 1t may at once
and safely be answered that large por.
ton of Ohio affords such market 1t has
also been found outside OF this State but TO
what extent or with what profit is not clear
ly shown BY the testimony. Mr.. Merrick,
in his argument, lays great stress on Chi.
cago, and regards it as the principal mar
ket. Mr.. Mcbride thinks that we should
rather look 10 the markets ut that point
lt which each Of the Goals OF the off rent
districts reaches Lake Erie, as fair basis
10 estimate their ability to compete with
zach other" think that We should look
At all places that offered the miners in
question
A NATURAL MARKET.
Now considering the facts stated in the
the amount OF coal annually
ninsd and the length of time that the
rade has been carried on, it seems 10 me
10 be fairly infersble that the business
must have been, on the whole, profitable
one OF course, like every other kind OF
it ia subjected to periods Of de
preston, but it is difficult to conceive why
it should be carried on at all, if it involves
o certain loss to the capitalist.
Referring to the wages now and hereto
fore paid for mining in these and other
districts, cannot see how an advance Of
10 cents per ton in miners wages would
necessarily deprive the operator of reason.
able profits, much less put an end to bis
business. In short think that the mat
ket Of the two districts named will be re.
tanned, even il the price Of mining be ad
vanced to 60 cents, and that such an sd
vance would still leave to the operators
profits
Ny decision, there ore, is that the opera.
tors OF the two districts con pay the st-
vance asked-viI , 90 cents per ton and .
with the other districts
Respectfully submitted,
4 G. THrgWAN.
Freight Agents and Furnace Men.
ST. LoUIs, January ga special tele-
,ro,, from, rbotianncva 1arn ~ the