The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-17
Horrors of Existence at Ander-
sOnviIIe Prison
Are Reproduced in the Mining
District of Pittsburg.
PLIGHT is PITIABLE.
No Such Suffering known Be-
fore By
The Committee Which Has
Been Investigating.

Pittsburg, Pa, April 1.-THE Dis
patch today says:
The legislative committee that is in
vestigating the condition of the miners
of the Pittsburg district, completed its
second day of personal inspection
among the mines today, and story of
the scenes of misery, destruction and
want that the investigators witnessed
would fill many large volumes. When
the work was finished the members of
the committee made the statement that
no such suffering was ever known by
them to exist before, and they are well
convinced that something must be done
and at Once-to alleviate the condition
of the unfortunate thousands who are
distressed.
The territory that was inspected was
in and about Banning, on the P. and L.
e railroad, about 40 miles above Pitts
burg.
The mines are located at Banning
station and are worked by about 100
miners. One-half of that number could
easily do the work, for the men do not
get more than two or three days
week. When they do work, cars are so
scarce that no matter how hard they
try, they are unable TO make more than
a dollar day at the outside, and very
much more frequently their pay for
the day is from 25 to so cents. The
greater part of these employees are for
eigners, there being but ten American
born families in the entire number.
Alongside the depot is a row of sheds
one story high and built of unplaned
boards. The building IS about 100 feet
long and II feet deep. 1t is divided into
three departments, for each OF winch
the inha bitantS pay Sc per month to the
company. The shed stands upon posts
and a small lake of foul smelling water
covers the ground under it. In this
building 100 persons live, crowded to-
gether like ants in a heap. Bread and
water form the greater part Of their
food, with canned sardines and cheese
occasionally as luxuries.
A little further up the stream are a
number of frame buildings which an
swer the purpose of houses. There is
absolutely no drainage and in each
house a pool of Stagnant water stands
the year round.
All the refuse is dumped into the lit
tie stream and spring on the other
side of it is the only place for the min
erS and their families to secure water
All of it has to be boiled, and then the
OdOr that it emits is sufficient to turn
the stomach of the average man. There
has been much sickness and a number
of deaths lately all of which are blamed
on the surroundings.
After leaving the settlement in and
about Banning, the committee went to
Jacobs creek, about three miles be-
low Banning, where the Darr mines of
Osborn and Saager are located. The
condition of the miners here Is worse,
if anything, than at the mines at Ban
ming. The men work from three to four
days a week, but the wages they re-
c0iNG are 50 SiI1dlI IAt1l l4ASy CAL SC<1ASS-
ly manage to exist. The greater part
of the miners are foreigners, with a
good sDrinkling of Americans, and some
negroes.
The company owns the miserable
novels which shelter the inhabitants.
One of the most Wretched is shed
about 7Sx2O feet. For this howell the
company receive "a per month, and
it would cost about $25 to build it. The
occupants of this house are Peter Jones
and his wife and child and eight board
ers.''
Where these II persons manage to
find room enough to stretch out at night
is a mystery. Inside there was a varied
assortment of furniture for the cook
ing, eating and sleeping is all done in
one room.
I'VE just manage to live" said Mrs
Jones, but if it were not for the board
ers that we keep, Peter could not make
enough in the mines to keep US from
StarVa tom