Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-02-28
{ A R R YING COAL.
HOW 1T Is DONE AND WHO
DOES IT.
Estimates Of CoSt-Thc Results For
The Workers Salaries. But No
Dividends - One Dollar II
Day BlackliSting
the Knights.

There IS Il company IN this city
which tiourishes under the rather
lengthy name Of the New England
and Empire Transportation Co. 1t
owns several steam tug boats of con-
siderable power, and as many fleets
Of flat boats. known us "boycs," "
which are used to transport coal. for
it is this branch Of business which
the company conducts. and out of it
all manages to pay favored stock
holders good salaries. while its en-
pIoycs ycgetate in a marine sort of
way on magnificent stipcnds varying
from 81 to ?.?j per day--but more
especially 81.
II the statements of various per-
sons WHO are engaged in this bust
ness are correct, and we have no
reason to doubt them. the following
would convey an approximate idea
Of the way the coal transportation
business is carried on. and the amount
Of expense. minus usury, involved:
4 fleet Of about ten coal boats or
"boyes" J" is loaded with coal some
where along the Jersey coast between
Perth Amboy and Wechawken, and
one Of the tugs tows them to this
port. Some of these boats are pro-
yided with rude cabins to accommo-
date the captain and crew embodied
in one and the same person; most of
these boats. however, are not pro-
vidcd with cabins, and have no
"crcw:" the boatmcn who olive" on
the other boats have to look after
them, besides attending to their own.
For their services these people re-
ceiyc the muniticent salary Of $G per
week .
The Transportation Company
charges on on an average GO cents
per ton for carrying coal from New
Jersey to this city, the "boXes" hold
ing say 200 tons, and rs the average
fleet numbers ten 'boXes, it may
be safely calculated that tug hauls
1000 tons Of coal per fleet. Some
times there are but three men crews
to fleet. but generally there are
four or five. The round trip con-
sumeS about two weeks including de-
tentlon at ports, varying, however,
as the boats are detained as much as
five weeks; but two weeks is fair
average the year through. In ease
of the harbors being frozen the men
are discharged-with the piriieqp Of
remaining aboard the boats; but then
they are expected to take care Of the
property, so that the company gets
cheap watchmen by this piece Of
"charity."
Some of the "boxcs" used carry
as much as $500 tons each, so that
an estimate of 200 tons to the boat
is low.
Two years ago the men received |
$40 per month and carried no more |
freight: and whether the tariff is
high or low the mems pay is down |
way down to Sl,0o per day.
Two fleets a week would be a low |
average arrival in this port; so that |
the company's profits might be cal
culated thus: At an average of 60 |
cents per ton, two fleets bringing
1000 tons of coal per week to this |
port would earn 81, 400. Out of this |
the company must pay for loading at T.
, cents per ton, Sl20: for towing, at |
Il cents per ton, 5000; for unloading /
at Is cents per ton, $,20 (this is |
more than the average, however,; |
for extra towing, sometimes, from
coal ports to loading place, say, at .
s cents per ton, 81. 20; making a
total Of 81. 80. leaving a balance Of f.
$50. Out Of this comes the wages /
of ) repairers at = per day, $50,
also the rent of an office in New /.
York and in this city (perhaps to
one Of the company. amounting to /.
perhaps so per week. which would |