The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-06-27
STARVING MlNEHs.

JAHvlN6 MJNERS.
Thousands Of Idle Golfers and Their
Families mt Rraiawood. ILL.,, Face to
Face with faminc--Pronpt Assistance
Necessary.
BRArDwooD, Ill. June 22-The condition
OF Braidwood IL one 10 call forth the com
msseration and the immediate practical
help OF the people of the United States The
normal population OF the town is about
5,W0, all directly dependent upon
the Goa m ming industry for their daily
bread III this time not one ounce OF coal
Is being mined. and the inhabitants are ut
Ahe point OF starvation. Men, women and
children alike share in the blight
which has overcast this section The
causes Of the stagnation are two-the
continued depression in the coal in
dustry here and the eliminating strike
or lockout which has placed 80 bread.
winners beyond the possibility of utilizing
their labor, and these two combined have
reduced q whole community to something
more than indigence. 1t is not possible to
Ov0rstate the condition of the people
OF This city aud neighborhood. Two
months ago the miners of Braidwood
went on strike, the occasion being p-O
posed reduction in the price paid for get
ting coal They had made little prepara-
tion for a prolonged siege, and they are to-
day starving. The actual facts as to the
condition of these men and their families
have been investigated
An extended trip through the city and
suburbs showed that the stories as to the
needs Of the people had by no means been
Overtlrawn. The down-tow stores are de-
serted and many are vacant. On every cor
ner can DC seen empty houses, and the only
thriving industry In the place is that of the
express-wagOn men, who are busily en-
gagged ~ conveying to the depot the bag
gage of those of the younger men who
have enough left to get away. The
married men, especially those who
have acquired homes here, are rooted
to the roll They must stay and starve.
During The spring they made little
money, a. what little they did make has
been usec Tor immediate necessities. Scores
OF the houses, and particularly the busi-
ness buildings, are being moved away to
Coal City and other points. The town zone
of the prettiest In the entire coal district)
seems as IL stricken with blight
Three weeks ago committee, consisting
of two representatives of each nationality,
was appointed to take care of the distressed.
more than full ever since its appoint
ment The population Of Braidwood is
n heterogeneous one comprising persons
of all nationalities Of the ,2243 heads of
families employed in the mines there are
some 40 English, Scotch. Irish and Ameri-
cans, the last named being few In propor-
ton. There are about 100 colorcd men, 800
Italians, 15O BOhcmans and Poles. As is the
case in most industrial communities the
families are large OF thirty applicants for
aid Friday the average number in the
family was six The single men have
pulled up stakes and quit, and the town is
face to face with I'M economic problem far
beyond its power to grapple with
III one house there was a family of ten
absolutely without food Of any kind. This
was the home of Scotchman, a steady,
hard working man. There wa not in the
little cottage q scrap OF stuff upon which a
dollar could he realized.
At another home iii the name be not a
satire was found n German woman with
seven children. Her husband left two
weeks ago to find work and she has not
heard from him since. She had not NOR
sci of food of any kind in the house and the
barefooted children were crying with
hunger.
The saddest episode was witnessed at a
cottage near the Eureka mines There
resides an Engiishman named Case,
who has three children, and a
wife who In dying of con-
sumption. Possibly before this is printed
she may be dead. but in any event
her decease Is but a question of days or
hours The husband is a steady, hard-work
ing man. and first-class miner He said
that his average earnings from January to
May had not been more than si1 per month.
He bought his little home for $50, on pay
ments Of five dollars per MONTH and he
still owes SOS Oh this account Besides that
he owes sli for medicine, and he has not a
bite of food in the house.
The measures for the relief of these dis
tressed people which have been taken up 10
date are miscrably inadequate. Local trades
men have sent in flour and few groceries.
Some money has been obtained from Jo let
and $500 from trades organizations IN Chit
cago Friday forty sacks of flour arrived.
and this was distributed in lots of twelve
pounds each to those who could live no
longer without it. But twelve pounds OF
-four for family vi ten hungry children
counts for little.
There is a pressing and Immediate neces-
sity Tor relief for these poor people. Not
less than 1000 women and children are IN
absolute want Of food. and relief can not
be too quickly sent them. As to the
causes which have led up to this de-
plorable result 1t is unnecessary 60
say any thing. The fact exists that a
wide field for the display OF timely benev-
olence is opened Clothing, and especial
" boots and shoes, are needed, particularly
Tor the children, but above all the call is
Tor the necessary food to sustain life 1t Is
the cry of the children that is going up To-
day-the cry Of the innocent sufferers
which can not be ignored.