Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-08
WAGES OF MINERS.
Facts from the Illinois Bureau
of Labor.
GAINS OF UNDERGROUND TOMERs.

Figures That May Re Depended Upon,
Showing What the Collier Has to Live
Upen-Few Full Months Worked, the
Average Being a Little Less Than Nigh
teen Days Per ,ionth-The Highest and
Lowest Amounts Earned-The Coke
Troubles.
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, June s.-The sixth
biennial report of the bureau of labor
commissioners is now ready. 1t contains
vast amount of information on subjects
which have never been treated of in former
reports. An interesting section n that
part showing the earnings of coal miners
in Illinois. The period chosen by the
bureau in which to make the investiga-
ton on this subject was the year immedi.
ately preceding the great strike Of 1889,
which was an average year, so far as were
concerned the time in which the miners
were employed and the wages paid.
Eleven mines. well distributed over the
coal field of Illinois, were embraced in the
investigation.
Had Access 20 the Books.
Access was had to the books of the mine
operators and much information was
Cleaned from the miners themselves. \
mine in Sangsmon county was taken as an
illustration. The smallest number of men
employed in one given month was eighty
five, in April; the largest number was l19,
in December; the average number en-
ployed during the whole year being 102.
During the year 2lo different men worked
in the mine az different times. Only forty
five men worked continuously through the
year Daring the month OF May at Cljs
mine niDesy-eeuen miners were able so geJ
an average Of E6.5 days work each; they
mined a fraction less than three tons OF
| coal day while at work, for which they
received an average of 81. - a day, or SO. q
! cash for their months work.
! \ General Average struck.
Ccndensiug all these totals and arrer
! ages to a single generalization for rhe veal
/ the deduction ! that an average of 10.
men obtained an average of IL days
! work each per month, in which each
mined 1886 tons of coal. and for which
each received SCI. - per month for twelve
| months. or S4S7,uc q Year. The report shows
| that the average wages paid miners eas
| month during the year were as follows;
May, S3-.6l; june. 50. Is; July. SsS-2s; Au
! gust, s59.5l; September, 1858; October
! 4L54; November, So 49, December. ~. p
January, S29ts; February. S52Os; March
Sss.27, and April. 1921 The yearly aver
age was SIS. - a month.
The Highest for the Year.
The highest average paid At any one o
the clever mines Uring tie year Wal
S{3 s. a month, though at one mine durin L
the month of October the average ran AZ
high as 81. -. Tie report shows that the
average WAGES per day for the eleven mine
| during the year was - y and the aSerag,
working time daring the year was 15.9
days per month. The average running
time during the year at the eleven mines
was 19.5 days per month. the average pos
sible time being p. 5 days.
The Best and the Worst.
All the figures Vary for each succeeding
month, the highest number u working
days in any mouth being % ). the largeS
daily product per capita being 5. y tons
and the highest earnings being S2.59 Pc
day and S+s.l3 per month. On the othe
hand the shortest months work was @
days, the lowest average output 2.51 tons
and the smallest earnings .63 day anC
S90.1l a month.