Evening star., 1886-11-06
DOWN IN a COAL NINE.
Facts About . Great Industry,

Facts About . Great Industry.
GIoN-Low WAGES FOR MINERS AND rooR
PAY FOR PRoPRIEroRs, WHILE THE RAIL
ROADS GROW RICH.
Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR
WILKEsBARRE, PA, November 2, 1Ssa
Few outside Of the coal belt who have not
given special attention TO tire matter know how
much labor is employed the amount of
money Invested in the coal industry. Some
idea may be gotten OF the numbers at work In
getting out coal when the fact Is recalled that
the largest part OF the population OF this city Of
$4,000 Inhabitants is engaged directly or in
directly In the business. The large railroads
which penetrate the anthracite regions whose
directors realize more and more the large profit
in carrying coal, employ an army of men to
serve their interests, from the high-salaried
superintendent down through the various
grades to the ''cracker" boy who earns every
cent OF his pittance in picking out slate from
the coal, as his dirty face. grimy hands and
strong language testify. Very few blacks are
isned 10 pursue his iavorite trade here, which,
TO say the least, Is a deal cleaner. The Irish
ana the Welsh elements are strongest, steadiest
ana most 10 be desired as workers. In the
struggle for existence they seem To overmaster
the wnilom numerous Hungarians.
My observation In this region leads me 10 say
that the workers In coal as a rule contented
and well paid when working full time. But i'm
the last few years a great change has come over
Inc aspect OF the labor question in these regions.
w here 500 or y 30 per month could be earned
by the industrious miner ne now can earn
scarcely nall as much. i have been told by
miners that sometimes not more than $40 a
month can be earned. 80 much idle time has
not only reduced wages but has increased the
consumption OF drink 10 an alarming ratio.
Much distress and sadness is the result As
long as the railroad companies control the
larger part of the output and by their pooling
al uad nnl IN, affNa
and put just SO much on the market do not
see that there Is any brighter prospect ahead
Although we ordinarily suppose that much
money Is made in mining Coal, yet We are TO
bear IN mind that vast sums are req uired 10 get
II ready ior shipment Coal lands are expcn-
sive. Though many wealthy men OF this city
can remem Der the time when their large farms
produced small revenues they now hold every
foot OF ground beneath which is coai, at "A high
price. The sinking OF the shafl, sometimes 200
or 500 feet deep, much OF which may be through
solid rock is a tedious and expensive work. The
building Of those great wooden towers called
breakers, consuming many thousands OF feet of
lumber lifted out with expensive appliances
Tor cleaning and breaking coal and IurnIs ned
with costly machinery Tor raising the loaded
cars to the surface the elaborate nIilating ap-
paratus, all these must be taken into the gem
eral cost. Besides these there are many t6ou.
sands OF dollars required 10 properly 1t up
the interior Oh the mine. The large quantity of
traction OF the amount used 10 support the
roofs and furnish the chambers OF q large
mine. Then . track OF steel rails must be laid,
often nifty miles In extent, COMMUNICATING
with the various workings, " hich sweils the
cost Additional expense Is Incurred In provid-
ing against fire and flood, which are often SO
serious 10 destroy the mine and blot out in Q
lew days the expenditure of u half million.
And 10 crown ali, II the mine be owned by .
private company or person. the railroad com.
panies over whose lines the coal must be
shipped. AZ all, charge such rates that mining
Rna peeones ,n.. 10 'ne n Swne5 unPronta1ie. nays
q time 10y reason oil this alone. Ii has been
estimated that under favorable circumstances
IL Gusts about 81 % 10 get a Ton OF coal To the
surface. IL is bought at the mines for an
average cost of 81. When IL gets 10 the large
shipping ports IL is usually about 4.75 per
ton. Wasningtonians know well the cost wnen
IL gets 10 them. Ii fortunes being made in
coal at the present time the railroad companies
only are making them.
ltal Into new mines. This Immediate region 10
becoming last honeycombed with them. II Is
possible now 10 walk with comparative COM
Tort beneath the bed of the Susq uehanna river,
500 feet above you, through underg round gall
leries as weird as Wonderland and 50 chiiling
guide with undiguised pleasure as Dante
heard the voice Oh Virgil in that eternal
space" where only Horror dwelt III. e. u.
Saturday smiles.
Maud-There Is that misunderstanding Misa
Sharpe promenading With that wealthy young
idiot
MabelaYes, she is enjoying the fresh heir
Chicago RdnsbLer.
1t is now asserted that the chestnut origi-
mated In Italy. This surprises US. We had no
idea IIaIy WAS Old thaL-NeU York
Grdphtc. We had idea that the chestnut
iglnated in the Garden OF Eden, when Adam
said that the woman Was " biame.-ALbanv
Argas
new suit he was Al nrst speechless with sheer
delight Then at length his JOY found
tongue, and he burst OUT .'oh, mamma, pants
MAKE me leel 80 grand! Didn't IL make you feel
grand when-" But an aw.ul consciousness
came over him that this bliss had never been
shared oy his mother, and he laid his wee
chubby hand pityingly against her cheek,
saying patheticaiiy: "Poor mammal poor
"well, what do you think OF the new neigh
Pryor"
81 haven't had chance TO form an opinion.
They haven't had washing hung out yeL" -
Boston Courier.
"An, old fellow" said q gentleman meeting
another in the street, $50 you are married st
last. Allow me- 70 congratulate You, for hear
you have an excellent and accomplished wife.
Accomplished Why, sir, she Is perfectly at
home in literature, nj home In music, at nome
In art. at home in science-in short. al home
everywhere except -" Except whsts"
Except at home. e.'-Boston Gassue.
Yankee girl-Mad! 1 should say did come
home mad. shall never 90 out a. mission
Omaha lady-Wouid not they listen 20 your
sOnI they listened respectfully enough, but
when talked 10 one OF tnem about tue sin Of
having SO many wives, what do you think the
brute saId?"
IL am sure don't know"
"He SAID II Turkish women were like me one
would be plenty."-Omoha World
Lady-"I can give you Q little more of that
chowder If you want It." Tramp-"Tbank you,
I've had all L want, an besides you'll need
whats left 70 wash the dishes wiLh."-Lye
The rear support OF the street car In called The
dasher because 30 many people dash after H.
Philadelphia Herald
The man who Invented the English Language
must have been humorou. sort Of chap. Othsrs
wise be would never have called servants
"help."-SosnerUsite Journal
The wind II always blowing about something;
but there ~ nothing In tt-NeW Orteans hcor
yIne.
"Liberty's" mouth ID just . yard vide, an
excnSnxe saya But the most notable thing
about u 10 that she always keeps it shut. OBJ
serve, ahe.-BH00t0 CbUrser.
"6ome men are oorn great" Yes, but graeiousl
how some OF them DO shrtnk.-Nsv Houm
Neaps.
WAYLArD, BEATEN AID RonBED.-Whilo
Alexander QUINN, q wealthy farmer OF Mar
shall county, w. Va. Was returning home We'd
nesday night ON hor.ebsck he wss met By two
men, who called on htm Sog help, feigning dis-
tress. When he astghted they caught him and
robbed him Of $50, . gold watch and chain,
and some papers. Then they beat him ttn ne