The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-18
THE GILMAN MINERS,
Reduction Accepted, but With
Many Wry Faces.
Is GRIEVANCES STATED.
= assss Replies - Receive, Dyysas-
rrsess - the Company stsrs-Ssb-
berg o. slosaa ReaA.

II{IeYD ItLrsfSA W ssc~~ASet SOsk0 H.
tnvsns. Of the Seattle Coal and Iron
coupany. from the Gilmsn mines yssssf-
Az. show that the reduction in wages VS.
i~asrally well received. While there Ii
l spme discomfort and some men quit
nshsr than accept the cut. no dificrity Il
orpecssd. The bunkers are full Of lump
- and the Great Northern and Union
| p,cisc roads have suspended shipments
! = the time being. 70 that the mine will
81 resume operation till this week. The
sriocspai points Of the new schedule Of
ssees were published in the Posr-IsrrIIf-
srscrR yesterday. and the following il
she notice signed BY Wesley Wilson ~
nsnsger for the receiver, which accom-
ranied it:
.The Seattle Coal and Iron Company be-
lns unable to pay the interest on its bonds
sli.s property has been placed in charge
a the court, and tho court having ap-
es,ntsd John II. Bryant receiver to repre-
mt IL in the management Of its property
md bushes, and as the court can not per-
al, the business To be conducted 1t . loss,
: reduction in cost and expenses 10 sbso-
I Iutey necessary, otherwise the mines will
Aase to be closed indefinitely. A schedule
3. wages and prices for mining, ETC., has
hssed on as nearly 10 per cent. reduction
/ : possible. except where more or less was
\ sscessary 10 make the scale of wages uni
! farm, and although reductions in wages
~ the order Of the day nil over the coun-
try. on account of the long-continued
Business depression and financial strin-
esacy, thereby masking IL necessary. yet
vs regret being compelled 70 make this re-
duction, but under all the circumstances
esn not avoid doing So"
Speaking of the allusion made in his
Interview published yesterday. TO tho
amount of the last months pay. which
vas spent a: the saloons Of Gilman. Re-
uiver Bryant said in explanation ysstsr-
day:
II did not intend to be understood rs
using the fact that 90 much money was
spent in the saloons ~ an argument in
favor Of reducing wages. for recognize
that ii Is no business Of the company how
thai money and We were bound to pay ii,
and they had . perfect right TO do what
they pleased with IL without any question
from Us. Nor do we claim any right to
ny how they shall spend their earnings"
The miners are not prepared to admit
tho necessity Of the reduction, and say
that while it il true that the company lost
money last summer, the loss was due to
tn ignoring the advice OF its superintend-
Ing engineer in running . new gangway.
They say that the cut in some cases 10 -
high rs Is per cent. though wages were
already 20 per cent lower than ut any
other mine in tho district. A letter from
one of the miners received yesterday re-
plies In detail to the interview with Gen.
Bryant published In the Posr-IsrELLt-
srscER. the following being q synopsis
oft:
There 10 not man around Gilman cut
ting cordwood at any price. but the wages
for common labor to individuals are ~ .
day. As to the reduction of force. George
A. Brooke has been appointed assistant
Managed, but not . single man has been
dispensed with. Tho mines were not
stopped last payday because the men
we're drinking, but because the bunkcrs
we're full of coal. At that time they were
paid for the two best months in the year.
In which they had not an idle day. but for
the next eight months they will not work
half time. They have only worked eight
and ons-half shifts so far this month and
the bunkers ara full, besides there being
enough loaded cars on the track to last
over week, so that IL is safe to say there
will DO little, II any. work for two weeks.
"As regards tho company store, the men
cannot get coupons unless they have bal
ance in their favor considerably in excess
Of the amount applied for. except In a few
cases where the clerk on his own RESPONSE
k,Iity breaks the rule in favor of an Old
smploye. All are compelled to buy d this
store, as everyone In Gilman can testify.
and II they save few dollars by buying
In Seattle. they are told to find work else
where. Here are the comparative prices
Of a few staple commodities AZ Seattle and
Gilman.