The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-06-18

market so as to have the price Of the
product rule high or low, according as
they desired to pay the men. Tho
owners offset this claim by averring that
the fluctuations in the value Of the coke
were controlled by the legitimate out
side demand-that it would rule at So. 25
per ton for time, and then sink to the
remarkably low price of ST. per ton, pre-
venting them almost from even making
expenses. They furthermore charged
the prevailing trouble to professional
labor agitators, and Gained that the
workmen lived better and earned
more than at other mines,
which latter statement was true,
but, although the Connellsville coal
is easily mined and the men work
at their leisure, and have the wagons to
fill at their hand, they accomplish much
more than in mines in less favored To-
calities.
1t was estimated, previous to the last
great strike, that the Connellsville work
men received for unsllilled labor 25 per
cent. more wages than was paid else
where for the same character Of work,
and that too, for simply handling the
shovel and pickaX, 1ungarians, Poles
and Italians earned from So to So a day
=
we'll ventilated mines, where soft nine
foot veins existed The usual seventy
six men uipment of mine and oven
certainly averaged $3.50 per man per
annum, aid, during q strike, the thrift
of the men was evidenced by the fact
that thirty-siX men drew $14, 900 from
the local banks.
The homes from which the miners
were evicted were, in many instances,
places of comfort and convenience. The
mine owners leased them to the workers
at prices varying from So to SIS per
month. These houses usually had four
rooms, and hydrant water and coal were
provided free of charge. Often there
would be pretty garden spot the
works were accessible, and the scenery
delightful, with excellent schools and
fine churches near at hand.
Some idea of the magnitude of the
coke enterprises may be gained from the
fact that one company had SIS, 900, 900 in
vested. controlled $1,000 acres of coal
lands, constituting 40 separate plants.
with 10, AGO ovens in blast. Three water
plants, with a capacity of 5000, 900 gal
Ions were operated, and the mines had
35 miles of railroad tracks, 200 cars, 90
locomotives, 70 pairs Of stationary en-
gines, 172 steam boilers, and SIG horses
and mules.
The profit on the coke is said to be
enormous, one firm purchasing sufficient
of the product to insure clear gain OF
5000 day. A new feature of the indus
try is the breaking Of the oke into sizes
to correspond to anthra ite coal by means
OF three large machines, having a capa-
city Of fifty carloads daily, which is sold
for use in FORCES, and in the manufacture
of agricultural implements.
There is but little doubt that the
troubles between laborer and employer
that have temporarily crippled the
great coke making industry will JUS
tify themselves in time. The inter
est is too important and it's ramii-
cations are too numerous and closely
allied to the best welfare of the country,
to be allowed to lie inert and unproduct-
i've. All great enterprises have period
of struggle and uncertainty, and the
coke industry will only reach peaceful
basis of progress when a permanent
settlement of existing difficulties is made
that will prove equitable alike to the
rights of capital and labor