Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-08

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all through it. going in southern direc-
ton in the same manner as that described
towards the north. As new excavations
are constantly being made the area te-
comes more complicated. yet the super>
intendent, Mr.. Robert Lee, has in his
Office constantly before him every foot of
the territory. These "rooms" are like the
rooms in long corridor in a hotel. They
are all numbered and two men are work
ing in each. So that the superintendent
knows precisely where each man is en-
ployed, as well as the clerk of a hotel
knows the occupants Of each room.
The men are permitted to choose their
working companions whenever possible.
and as they are paid by the amount of
coal taken from each room the two men
share equally. These men begin at 6
o'clock IN the morning. have an hour at
noon and quit at in the evening. Blast
ing preparations are done at night by men
employed for that purpose The temper
allure. winter and summer, is about the
same. Ventilation is carefully looked
after. air being forced into the mine by
tanning apparatus on the outside, and is
so managed by the opening and closing
of doors across the entries that fresh
supply is always secured to the workmen
When the coal is brought to the surface
the cars are wei he'd by a man who is
constantly in attendance for that purpose.
This is done without any delay and the
laden cars are emptied upon an incline
constructed OF strong steel bars laid par.
sllel, several inches apart. The larger
pieces OF coal glide over these and drop
into cars on h railroad track below. The
smaller coal which passes through the
steel bars is again divided by a similar
process so that there are three sizes sent
to market-designated lump. nut and
slack-the first being used for all pur-
poses, the second principally for base
| burner stoves and the slack is used for
stationary engines and similar purposes
OTHER MATTERS
Here in summer are employed 300 men
and in winter 400. They are OF varied
nationalities Irish. Scotch.
Swedes, Americans and others. They are
excellent workmen. but if any distinction
were to be made the Swedes would have
the preference. They seem to take a
greater interest in their work, and. as a
consequence, have a greater return for
their labor
Throughout this state generally and in
Indiana quite recently rumors of dissatis-
faction and strikes were general among
the coal miners. This is something of an
ordinary occurrence and complications
have arisen to such An extent as to be both
costly and serious 10 these mines. under
the supervision of the present MIR. Ben T.
Cable or when under the management of
his father the miners are snd were per-
fectly satisfied. 10 all other mines the
workmen are paid by the ton for the larger
| coal. but not the smallest that comes
through the screen The late Mr. Cable
admitted the injustice of this and allowed
payment to the men upon the whole out
! put whether of lump coal or slack. One-
third of all the coal mined goes toward
the purchase of new land and the plant.
one-third to handling and taking to mar
ket, including the profit to the owners.
and one-third goes to the miners them
selves This division is so eminently
| just, if not even generous. that the work.
ment cannot fail to fully realize and &C
knowledge it. The principle of fairness.
coupled with proper and considerable
treatment of all employed. gives the men
not only kind OF proprietary interest,
but makes them feel that they are por-
tons of humanity and not treated as they
were in England but short time ago. or
even for that matter today. The work
men tell YOU that when Mr.. Cable visits
the mine he dons the suit and cap com
mon to the rest and with lamp in hand he
learns for himself the condition of all en-
ployed. He knows nearly all the miners
By name and when away for a length of
time he will ask after such and such
man, as TO whether he is still en-
ploYed. and If left the reason or any
other matter concerning him. In this way
the men feel an individuality of which
they are too often bereft They live in
contented. happy way. Their homes are
painted white. their houses are comforts-
bly, furnished and they are all sober and
orderly. II some Of them should visit
saloon after the hours of work it is their
own concern. no one interfering, but
should they abuse the privilege they
would probably be asked the reason why
by hr. Lee, the superintendent. Their
politics and religion are only known to
themsel yes and the manner IN which they
exercise these duties and PRINCIPLES is
never inquired into. This treatment has
secured a class OF miners which have not
their superiors in the world Other men
about the mine not actually engaged in
getting ont coal receive stated monthly
sum-all being paid monthly.
The output last year was 176. 900 tons;
this year it will be 49, tons, which
supplies large trade on the Mississippi
as well as the r. l. d p and the c.. B. &
O. roads and dealers in this district gen
orally. The farmers are supplied by
small mining concerns scattered about
this section of the state In which Cable is
situated and extending In different direc
tons. The mine just described has the
lowest vein of coal in the world. in the
sense that ii is the deepest down.
500 Reward 800.
The readers nf the A pnrTs On IN ha nj on aed |