Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-01-29


CHICAGO, Jan. 29-The following is
the contract between the operators Of
the competitive coal fields and the
United Mine Workers of America,
which has been signed:
"The following agreement made and
entered into in joint interstate conven.
ton in this city (Chicago), Jan. 26, 1898.
by and between the operators and min.
ers of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West
ern Pennsylvania, known as the Pitts
burg thin vein district, witnesseth.
''first-That an equal price for min.
ing screened lump coal shall hereafter
form base scale III all of the districts
above named, excepting the state of
Illinois, the block coal district of Indi-
ana, to pay 10 cents per ton over that of
Hooking Valley, Western Pennsylvania
and Indiana bituminous district, and
that the price of pick run of mine coal
in Hooking Valley and Western Penn
sylyania shall be determined by the ac-
tual percentage of screenings passing
through such screen as is hereinafter pro-
vided, it being understood and agreed
be mined and paid for on the above
basis at the option of the operator, &C
cording to market requirements, and
the operators of Indiana bituminous
shall also have like option of mining
run of mine or screen coal.
.Second-That the screen hereby
adopted for the state of Ohio, Western
Pennsylvania and the bituminous dis
trict of Indiana, shall be uniform in
size, 6 feet wide, by II feet long, built
of fiat or akron shaped, of not less than
five-eighths of l inch surface, with / "a
inches between bars, free from obstruc-
tions, and that such screenings shall
rest upon sufficient number of bear
ings to hold the bars in proper position. !"
'"Third-That the block coal district
OF Indiana may continue the use of the
diamond screen OF the present size and
pattern with the privile of run of mine
coal, the mining price of which shall
be determined by the actual screenings,
and that the state of Illinois shall be alb
solutely upon a run of mine system and
shall be paid for on that basis.
"Fourth-That an advance of 10 cents
per ton of 1900 pounds for pick mined
screened coal shall take effect in West
ern Pennsylvania, Hooking Valley and
Indiana bitumlnous districts on April l,
1898, and that Grape Greek, Ills, and
the bltuminous district of Indiana, shall
pay 40 cents per ton, run Of mine coal,
from and after same date, based upon
66 cents per ton screened, in Ohio,
Western Pennsylvania and the Indiana
bituminous district, same to continue in
force until the expiration of this con-
tract
''tifth-That ON and after April /,
1898, the eight-hour work day, with
eight hours pay, consisting of six days
per week, shall be in effect in all of the
districts represented and the uniform
wages for day labor shall be paid the
different classes Of labor in the fields
nam and tkat internal differences in
any Oh the states on districts. both as to
prices or conditions, shall be referred to
the states or districts affected for adj
justment
'sSlxth-That the same relative prices
and conditions between machine and
pick mining that have existed in the
different statessshall be continued dur
ing the life Of this contract,
,oeYenth-Ihat present prices for
pick and machine mining and all classes
OF day labor shall be maintained in the
competitive states and districts until
April l, 1898.
Eighth-That the United Mine Work.
ers' organization, a party to this con-
tract, do hereby further agree to afford
all possible protection to the trade and
to the other parties hereunto against
any unfair competition resulting from
failure to maintain scale rates.
"Ninth-That this contract shall re-
main in full force and effect from April
1,,1S98, to April /, 1899. and that our
next annual interstate convention shall
convene in the city of Pittsburg On
the third Tuesday in January, 1895.
Adopted"
This is signed by miners officials and
representative of the operators.
The yVeafhar