The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-05-07
THE WOES
OF MINERS
Legislative Investigators Examine Nanti-
coke Mine Workers.
A SUPERINTENDENT TESTIFIES
George R. Morgan Declares the Trouble to
Be That There Are Everywhere
Three 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 its 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 S1.02 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 II to IA days a month.
In the month, of March he earned S35.
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 $25 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 SIS 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 Susauehanna 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; la
borers, $780, miners, $2.10 to $2.23; en-
gineers, 1923.
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 bituminous
coal is also cutting into the anthracite
trade, and he expressed the opinion
that full market for anthracite would
never return. Soft coal is cheaper, and
the big manufacturing establishments
find it answers their purpose. The
Susquehanna Coal company mined and
shipped 1,2000 900 tons of coal in 1896.
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 em-
ployes Most of them We're 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 destitution, but the
| miners could not have the comforts
they used to enjoy, and it was a 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 win be develop
ments to open their eyes,