The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-19

nous and block mines The bituminous coal
is easily mined, being usually in large seams.
The block coal is more difficult TO mine being
In smaller seams sometimes running as low az
two feet. In the coal mines the measure of a
man Is the breadth of his shoulders. That is
he must be able to rest on his left arm and pick
with his right, lying at full length. The wages
for mining are decided ar a meeting of the oper-
ators and miners. Last year the scale was S.
and 90 cents for block coal out of three foot
seams, and 20 cents for bituminous coal. For
coal under three feet, one inch in thickness
higher prices were paid; from Is 10 40 cents ex-
ira for coal going as low as two feet. This coal
was hard 70 get out, and less of IL was mined
per day.
This year the operators offer 20 to 75censs
for block and 65 cents for bituminous, the
fall being cents on bituminous and 10
cents per ton block. In addition to
this, there was refusal to pay extra
for low coal. all TO be treated alike. Be-
cause of this the men struck, claiming that it
was unjust. The operators were divided among
themselves as to the scale. They claimed that
the demand had fallen of-that natural gas and
oil fuel and Ohio Illinois and PENNSYLVANIA
competition had ruined the market and there
was no demand for block coal, which mad here
tofore commanded the highest price. On all
these questions express no opinion. IL may
be so. But let us see about the way the men
have been earning their living.
Certainly $ per week would be considered
low wages for miners. out OF which to support
their families. Il is denied that this has been
the rate Of wages. offer the following evi.
dence
Here are the pay checks of several men,
showing that they received 500, SASS, $50,
1888, 1923 per week. Que man told me that
In 1886 he received 1902; in 81, 1897; in IS,
S297; in four months OF 80, Si0a.
per week. Another said he did not
average 81 per day clear of expenses. An
other said One time my boy and got ont
fifty tons in two weeks This is so for two
men in two weeks. out OF this, he said, I
paid 81 for powder and 81 for smithing, or
sharpening tools. Two or three days a week is
all the work we have had. The men earn s.
per week less their expenses; sometimes but
$3.50 or ST. If had not had my boy I should
have been in debt. have averaged about 81
per week the year round.
What about the large wages / hear about
the So and $40 per week. / asked. we
have not heard about it, he said. Ny friend
said: If R man would 90 IN debt az the store
he would be given a special job or an opportu-
nifty to earn more. or his coal would be rushed
out, and his two weeks wages would show up
better
THE method is this: A miner gets his coal
ready and works on a few days, when it is
hoisted. He gets pay only for what is hoisted,
which amount may mean the result OF days or
weeks of labor, but it shows in the payroll as
the earnings for the two weeks. There is coal
in some of the mines which has never been
hoisted, and the miner never received cent
for his labor of picking il out. Then the
miners are charged S1.75 per ton for coal which
is worth on the track for shipment but sl.37 in
the general market; and the houses are so
thin-walled that the amount consumed is neces-
sarily very great.
The miners are not a noisy, drunken, i'm
provident class. They are quiet, good citizens:
honest, sober, industrious, They have given
their lives to this work. They cannot follow
anything else They would not know what to
do. A little relief is reaching them, how little
Won can see