The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-07
THE WOES OF MINERS,
Legislative Investigators Examine
Nantiooke Mine Workers.
A SUPERINTENDENT TEsTIFIEs.

George r. Morgan Declares the Trou-
BILE to Be That There Are Every
where Tbroe Men to Do Two Mems
work-Hard Struggle For Existence.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, May THE legis-
lative committee investigating the con-
dition of affairs In the anthracite re-
gion held it's first meeting In this city
yesterday.
Thomas o. Evans, of Nanticoke, was
the first witness sworn. He testified
that he Is a breast miner employed
by the Susquehanna Coal company,
and receives $l.02 per car of coal
mined. In ten hours two men are sup
posed to send out six cars Since jan
uary he has been working in the
neighborhood of IL to IA days a month.
In the month Of March he earned $s5.
He lives in his own house and deals
in the company store owned by the
Susquehanna Coal company. He has
a family of II to keep, the youngest 10
years old. He cannot keep his family
properly now, but could when the
mines worked steadily.
Miner Porter, a miner, said he had
drawn $2h the last month, and after
paying rent had but $13 left for his
family. Miner Patrick Kelly drew s26
for April, and after paying rent had
left but s1S for his family-a wife and
eight children Miners James Llewellyn
and James Fisher gave about the
same testimony.
The most significant testimony was
that of Superintendent George r. Nor
gan, of the Susuuehanna Coal COM
pany, who has been in the employ OF
that company 20 years. He gave the
schedule of wages paid the various en-
ployes-slate pickers, SO cents to 81; Ia
borers, $3.50: miners, $40 to S2.23; en-
gineers, $2.23.
The trouble is said Mr. Morgan, that
there are everywhere three men to do
two mems work. This large increase is
due principally to the influx of Polish
and Hungarian labor. The bitumlnous
coal is also cutting into the anthracite
trade, and he expressed the opinion
that full market for anthracite wouid
never return. Soft coal Is cheaper, and
the big manufacturing establishments
find it answers their purpose The
Susuuehanna Coal company mined and
shipped 1900, 900 tons of coal in 1885,
AS to the complaint that the COM
pany owned the so-called company
store at Nanticoke, which charged
higher prices than other stores, Mr.
Morgan said the company did not own
the store but simply the building, and
that the store was operated by another
company. Mr. Morgan thought foreign
labor was at the bottom of most of the
distress among the miners. He did not
see any definite promise for the future
in anthracite coal mining, unless the
overstocked labor market were re-
lieved.
Testimony was heard also from
Thomas Mack, outside foreman; Fred
Jacobs, pump runner, and other en-
ployes. Most of them were cautious
about giving testimony. They said
wages were ample if the miners could
only work a reasonable number Of days
each month. The short time was the
discouraging feature. Several also In
sisted that they did not know of any
cases of actual restitution, but the
miners could not have the comforts
they used to enjoy, and it was hard
struggle to get the necessaries.
The general opinion is that the min
ers already examined are better off
than the average in this valley, and
that when the committee begins to ex-
anime miners from other localities and
other companies there will be develop
ments to open their eyes.