The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-11
PoRTeR,s OPEN LETTER.
IL Contradicts Utterly Previous Statements
of the Coal Operators.

To THE EDIToR-.Sir: The open letter pub
lished recently in the Brazil Times, written by
H. II. Porter of the c. & l. c. company, adj
dressed to the striking block coal miners, is
significant document in more than one par
ticular Mr. Porter invites the miners who
have at any time been in the employ of the
Brazil block coal company TO come TO Chicago
and be shown eonclusively that for three years
past the company has made no dividends; that
the stock has steadily declined until IL is now
worth but 60 cents on the dollar, and that the
company has offered every cent for min
ing that it can possibly pay. Doubtless,
this proposition was merely a tub-was thrown
to the whale for effect The miners say that
Mr.. Porter's company should show these things
conclusiyely TO board Of arbitration here at
Brazil. When this is satisfactorily done TO dis
interested men, the miners will accept the
wages offered. But Mr. Porter labors 10
explain that, as the transportation OF ton of
coal from Brazil 10 Chicago is but the equva-
lent Of the digging OF ton and half, the
miner should accept the price offered and be
content. lie fails entirely. however, to
show the Brazil miners why it is that the
digging OF n ton and a half OF coal
Is exacted from the block miner the
equivalent OF transportation, a distance OF $50
miles, while the bituminous miner az Coxyille
is required TO mine only ton as such equiva-
lent for the distance ofl66 miles. This schedule
Is in violation OF all known laws Of ratio. Thus:
The transportation Of n ton Of bituminous coal
from CoxylIle 20 Chicago, l66 miles, Is worth
90 cents, or the digging OF one ton; therefore
the transportation OF n ton OF block coal from
Brazil 10 Chicago, $50 miles is worth one dol.
lar, or the digging OF ton and half
But how does this proposition Of President
Porter tally with that made by the officers Of
the company here the latter part Of June.
10 the elect that II the committee Of miners
failed 10 show from their books that they had
made more than per cent for the past year,
they should agree 20 20 TO work. This was re.
garded by all as an admission that the CON-
pany had been realizing 8 per cent But now
comes Mr.. Porter 20 say that they have had no
dividends for three years. Again. how does
Mr. Porter's declaration, that their stock is
worth but 90 cents on the dollar. consist with
that OF the officers Of the company here, who,
before the board OF equalization last
Juue, rated their stock at par
and worth 100 cents on the dollarp
That statement was made and openly verified
before the board two months after the strike
had come on. IL Mr. portcr's letter TO be UNI
derstood 10 mean that the stock OF the company
has declined from 100 10 40 cents on the dollar
since the last of JuneY II ~, what oxtraordi-
nary causes have operated 10 doprcciato 40 per
cent within 40 short timeY
With these contradictory statements, the
public can accept Mr.. Poricr'B open letter only
~ q stroke Of policy 10 court public sympathy
for the company aud arrest the flow Of contri-
buttons e. the strikers. CLAY COUNTY.
Hragil sent