The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-08-20
Statement by tho Executive Com
mittss Of the Bolt Miners
Union.
The Cauaes Which LSd Up 10 the
Recent Big Strike
Thore.
Now Clssad by the orders Of President
Shields, OF tho Castnsr Coal
COmpaay.

A Great Falls dlspatoh saYs thas By
ordO, Of President bhlslda Of ,bS
Cashier Coal and Coke company
who passSd though hsrs on ths
way 10 bis homo Ia Anaconda. ths BeIt
mlnos have been shut doWa. tho em9lofss
will be paid on aud tbs business wound up.
Robert Hsndfy, president Of the Bolt Cfesk
Miners uaion, requests TnE IsDKrESDEEr
10 publish the miners aids Of the strike.
and furnishes tho following state msnt
from tho executive COMMITTEES under date
VI Belt Aug. ~. 1884,
We hops you will allow us a lItlls space
In yOur vaIusbls paper In which to inform
the public at large OF the grievances which
led op 70 tho present Noubls q, Belt 10
has been given on, by Mr. Shields or sons
OF his birelinas that tho miners Of Belt
hive been doing we'll ami hal no cause
for complaint. Now we will submit 10 the
public statement OF the fsots leading np
10 the present. troable. When the Castnsr
Coal and Coke company htsi commenesd
operations the espscity OF the mine cars
was %. "a oubie feet. for which thsy paid ss
the rate OF ~ cents per car. lhis car OF
534 cubic feet caIseity they claimed 40
their standard. They have enlarged upon
this standard until 10 has reached q capsc-
ity Of 62.3 oablc feet With no advance on
the original price Of % esnts per ca. aai
We thought il time 10 call hsil Although
Mr.. shislds. tho sapsrintsndent, e.aiIni we
did not give him doe notice Of our inten-
tion TO quit. neither did he at any slns give
us due notice OF his Intention to ealaras
upon the original car, which We claim 10 {.
reduction of wages
There are other things imposed upon ths
miners Of this place that are not in their
line OF work. They have TO come out of the
mine q distance Of l. 800 feet or over TO out
thar timber to be used in supporting the
roof. and also to SEQ that they are delivered
at the face Of the working. Now the Law In
this matter says that the operator Of mins
shall deliver at distance Of not less than
100 feet fom the face Of ths working.
This ne also consider q reduction OF wsGsa.
Aud then comes the laying Of track. which
II 10 customary fos all companies 70 do
throughout the state. The miners have this
TO do themselves. They have 10 go outside
for the material with which 90 lay their
track and see that 10 is delivered. For all
such work there 10 no compensation. and 10
is a loss Of from one 10 two hours every
time timber or track is required. There are
deficiencies 10 be met 10 coal mining which
this company Is not always willing TO pay
for. which In justice TO the miner should be
paid for at the rate Of sS.65 per day, which
allows 5 cents per day for oil.
We now lsAys the publisso judge whether
or no, our demands are reasonable. as
mentioned in the following sehe duls which
has been presented by tbs miners union to
the Osstner Coal aud Coke company.
Fl at. We demand 81 per car for all cara
loaded. or to take the new Tor large oars)
out and continus al the usual rate Of 90
cents per car. With a proviso In each cass
that scales be put In on tho tippls aud coal
weighed In mine cars AZ the rate OF 70 cents
per ton, allowing thirty days for scales to
be put In.
Second. That hereafter the company
shall cut all timbeTs 20 tbe order OF the
miners and forward them TO the face OF the
workings a. required by Law.
| lhAfus lhht tno fonphny tnhh my ali
track required In shs mine With the eIcep-
tion OF ono pair OF shor, rails In each room.
rails not TO exceed fifteen or twenty. one
feet in length.
fourth.-That all dsGoisnoles Occurring
in the mine be paid for az tho rate OF So 90
per dAy OF ten hours work
We base our demands upon the rates
paid In the district which are as f0llowG
Miners working day work. S3h5 per day.
Eve cents Tor oil; trsoklaysrs and timber
men. $500 per day. 10 cents for oil; drivers,
81 sl3psr day, 10 conts for oil.
Yoa will SEQ by this our demands are jos,
and reasonable. all OF which M. Shields
was willing 20 eoneeie IL hs could persuade
his company TO make the Same concessions.
Hoping this will diaAbuss ths pabiie
mind in regard 10 reports that have bean
circulated about the cause Of this trouble.
We remain yours respectfully,
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Belt Creek Miners Union. Belt, Mont