Mohave County miner., 1893-08-12
comstoet M,nsrs' Wages.


say that this percentage Of cut In the
salaries Of the officials does not par,,c.
ularly affect them, but the same cut in
the daily wages Of the miner is some.
thing serious. 1t is claimed that the
miners wages form only one sixtieth per
cent of the cost OF operating Comstock
mines. The cost Of transportation, wood,
water, milling, etc., have always been
excessive, ~ have also been the Office
salary lists. Ia the opinion OF the min.
ers, with expenses suitably reduced IN
these directions the miners wages could
be maintained as at present. The Min
ers' Union has been considering the
proposition. but has arrived at no def.
mite conclusion ss yet. The amount
claimed to DO in the treasury OF the
Union is $4,000, with $4,000 promised
from the unions OF San Francisco, and
also quite a sum from Butte City, Mon
tsna, which on former occasion was
aided bv the Virginia Miners Union.
As they are figuring on their resources,
il looks as II there would be vigorous
protest on the part OF the union.
The miners themselves know all
about the mill operations and the sal.
aries paid for useless officials. They
know OF many instances where the mine
loses thousands by milling ore on which
the mill makes thousands. They know
where there are dozens OF officers to one
or two miners in the cases Of q number
OF companies. II 10 natural for them TO
think that II the mines we're honestly
managed, there wouli be no need Of n
reduction OF wages. The ofiicisls have
already accepted the proposed reduction,
bat there is "iorced put. because peo.
pie are objecting TO paying assessments,
The delinquent list OF the Hale 4 Nor
cross mine advertised this week occupies
four columns OF a daily paper. The
holders OF the stock decline 10 pay, and
give up their stock in preference. Thi-
il not confined to this mine. but ap
plies to many others. II assessments
cannot be collected, the mines cannot be
worked The only wonder Is that this
point has not been reached long ago. &C
bsrefaced have been the methods o.
management of many OF these proper
ties.
OF course il is in the power OF the di
rectors of the companies 10 temporary,
close the mines il the miners refuse th,
proposed reduction. Bot there will b.
many more than the miners ont OF jot
il this is done, and the mines will onl!
be closed as q last resort. As to th,
views OF individual miners on the pro
posed reduction, the following may b
quoted:
One member OF the union who was in
terviewed said: "0ur meetings are sc
cret and can give nothing official
You may say that IL will be big sur
prise il the miners accept any reduction
Onr wages are none too large. We don
propose to sweat in the sweltering DRIFT
and inhale the poisonous gases for les
than a, while men are loafing in saI
Francisco and drawing fat salaries a
superintendents and secretaries Of
dozen different companies. We hav'
enough money in our treasury to run u
long time and none OF our member
ou. OF employment will suffer. Don
believe a word OF the talk about putin
1000 men to WORK at So. 1t is all bosh
II the nine-owners meant business the
would put their proposition in black an
white"
Another miner said Begin econ
omy with the mill and We are all on :
the racket. Why, not long ago min
here lost 81 900 q month, and the mi
that crushed the ore made about $500
ON IL. The mill sump-hole takes tn
money out Of the mining industry, an
when the raills cheaper, as they car
and still make a profit, there will be
need Of a reduction 10 wages. Let a
outsider go dovn to those heated leve
and zee II he thinks "a too large, an
aside from that. nnder economical maj
agenent and cheap milling, there nee
be no cut in wages"
The miner asserted that the repor
Of low.grade ore were mIsleahin
"Why," he said, II saw ore in dri
not long ago which assayed $3.50 TOT
and the car samples Of that same o.
were reported at $l9 The game %
been played a long time, and covers .