Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-10
MON0NGAH STRIKE.
GENERAL MANAGER SPILMAN EXPLAINS TIE
POSITION OF THE COMPANY.
BE Says the MsD, if They Work Steadily, Can Make
More Money by Machine Mining Than by
Picks-A Comparative Statement
Of Miners Wages.
Speclal 7elemam to Me Reoister.

FAnMoNT, w. VA, December 0.
The REGISTER reporter, desiring to
ascertain the true condition of the trou-
bles at Monongah mines for the readers
of the REGISTER, called upon Gen. Spill
man, the General Manager OF the Com
pany at the mines, and was received
very cordially by him. The Monongah
plant is perhaps the finest and best APP
pointed coal and coking establishment
in the State, with over hundred houses
and boarding houses of superior quality
for the accommodation of the miners.
The whole surroundings are very
creditable TO the State and to the COM
pany that has undertaken this enter
prise, and General Spilman informed
me that quite am additional amount OF
improvements. which would greatly add
to the comforts of the place, were in
contemplation for next summer. The
reporter at once proceeded to business
by asking the following questions:
''Gen. Spilman, the REGISTER would
be glad to understand the true conditi-
on Of the trouble at Monongah, and
the policy of your Company, ii you feel
at liberty To give such information.
"All the information can give you is
at your service, with pleasure. As the
Company desires to deal fairly aud up
rightly with its men, it has nothing to
withhold. In order that you may un-
derstand the situation more fully, Will
explain that since the Company COM
menced its mining operations some six
years ago, that for want OF proper or
ganizaton and proper business methods
the Company has been mining at loss,
and the miners, by reason OF lack OF
constant work, have not made as much
money as they could have made with
constant employment. About month
ago a reorganization OF the Company
was made. in which Senator Camden
accepted the Presidency Of the Company
and came here in charge as General
Manager. 1t has been my study and
aim since taking control, TO organize
the mining department of the Company
upon basis that would yield a reason
able profit to the owners OF
the Company, aud at the
same time provide constant and
regular employment for miners sufficient
for the output of coal desired, so as to
avoid having more laborers and more
miners than there was employment for
at full time. | will explain also that
the mining is being done here almost
exclusively by machinery, to the extent
that machinery is used for that purpose,
and that il is the universal rule adopted
at all mines where machinery is used, so
| far as | know. to count the work done
by the machines at one-half of the price
paid for mining by picks: therefore. If
| the price paid for mining by picks Is 4Oc
per ton the miner breaking down and
loading the coal is entitled to zoe. II
the price was iJc, the miner loading
would be entitled TO 30 &c, and so on
according to the price established for
pick mining in the locality. My effort,
therefore, is TO conform to the eStab-
lished rules in this respect, and at the
same time so arrange the employment
of miners as to give them continuous
work"
General, do you consider the expert
ment of mining by machinery as an as
Sured succesS?'
II certainly do: our machines are
running like clock-work and doing eX-
cellcnt service. The work done by the
machines is underwriting of the coal,
which is the hardest and most disagree
able labor to the miners, leaving the
miners simply to break down the coal
and load il into the wagons. and as a
general thing the miners prefer this
mode of mining To the old fashioned
manner of underwriting.
"IS it true that the men cannot make
good wages at the price offered to be
paid by you?'
Certainly not; on the contrary, men
who will work steadily can make more
money at the price proposed to be paid
by MS for breaking down and loading
coal than for any other mode Of mining
and for any other labor connected with
mining: for instance, will give you the
amounts earned in the month OF Novem-
Der by half dozen or so OF miners. By
turning to the payroll for the month OF
November find that;
d. c. Jones worked 10 days and earned si2OGs
Il. IIollsworth worked % days aud earned
G. W. Jackson worked % days and earned
slOi9j. 900,
p Cayigan worked % days and earned slSi;s So
G. T.. Bice worked q days and earned so o.
We would like to have 100 such men.
Upon this reduction from % TO 20
cents per ton is proposed; 40 cents being
the established price for pick mining in
this district, and 20 cents half price paid
for mining by pick, the wages OF the
same parties under the reduction would
be: