The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-14

Coal and Iron company. He described
his duties as those requiring a gem
eral supervision of work at the COM
pany's mines. The company has six
mines, two in Susquehanna county,
three In Lackawanna, and one In Lu-
zerne. In 1896 800, 900 tons were mined.
The output has shown a decrease so
far this year, 25 per cent, less than
last year. There has been an average
of eight working days per month this
year.
PRICE FOR MINING.
From 81 to 70 cents per ton. of coal
mined is paid employees and a widely
varied rate per yard. The coal is
weighed by a company employe, a
weighmaster A miner averages. from
four to six cars per day, ton and
a half Of coal per car. The laborers
are paid by the miners. Miners earn,
from S2.75 to SO per day, The sched-
ule paid the miners and by the latter
to laborers would be forwarded to the
committee later at Harrisburg.
To his knowledge there was no dis
elimination in railroad rates. He was
not in a position to state what it cost
a.
on a car at a breaker. The company
operated no stores. 1t paid its en-
ployes once a month in cash. Inside
laborers earned from $1.25 to $2.02 per
day, outside laborers Sl,45, engineers
$50 per month, and skilled labor the
ruling current prices. Miners earn
from $?5 to $50 per month. Many la
borers are empoyed when the mines
are not working. Inside laborers earn
from SIS to 500 per month and out
side laborers about SIS per month.
Captain May knew the employees had
a hard time to thrive but knew of but
comparatively few cases of destitution.
There were rumors to the effect but
on investigation his company has been
unable to find such cases.
The Hillside company has no means
of providing for it's sick and injured
employees, but there are free hospitals
which admit them.
About $500 employees work for the
company, the majority being Irish
Americans and British Americans. The
other nationalities, while not as intel
ligent, are a satisfactory class of labor.
The recent stagnation in the coal trade
he attributed to the general depression
in business.
NOT GENERALLY ABUSED.
Captain May saw no objection to the
mine examining law of 1889 1t was
not generally abused, though he did
not doubt it was sometimes evaded. A
repeal of the law would not benefit
the miner. 1t sustains a degree of eff
ficiency. He had heard no complaint
of the board of examiners. A law pro-
viding for the examination of miners
might be a benefit. He did not believe
it would do any harm.
The present price of coal does not
permit coal companies to make any
| material profit. He did not believe his
company made any money in 1895 or
1896. The recent increased price of
coal is positively not too high, but it
has lessened the demand. If the price
was less the result would be a reduced
| scale of wages.
Mr.. Storrs was recalled and said he
| understood that the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western company had in
recent years lost money on it's coal
| interests. The dividends paid by the
company have been as a corporation
| operating a railroad and mines The
company's profits, he understood, came
only from it's railroad interests.
There was a further qualification by
| Mr. Storrs. His statement relating tC
| the average wages Of 500 of a miner
per month related to the first foul
| months of this year. Miners earned
less from December to April inclusive
than in other months. The wages
| during the summer would be double
that figure. Perhaps miners average
pay for twelve months would be $4OO.
MEREDITH QUESTIONED.
Chairman Meredith conducted the
examination, though a few questions
were put by the other members. Only
the representatives of newspapers were
| permitted in the room while the exam
| nations were in progress.
From the committeeman a Tribune
| reporter ascertained their opinions
were that the condition of mine EN-
| ployes in the Wyoming and Lacka.
wanna regions did not apear to be as
serious as in the Schuylkill district. The
| committee proposes to gather informa-
| tin from every possible source, from
railroad officials, mine owners, superin.
tendents, foremen, miners, laborers anG
| business men.