The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-09-29
COAL MINES.
The States Coal Mines; Facts
For the People.

The state coal mines and the inter
ests appertalning thereto as related to
the present convict system in Tennes-
see are an issue in the present State
campaign. A faction of the operators
of the State, when the proposition that
was first presented, begun a fierce as
sault upon the system. Having failed
to defeat the proprosition in the legis-
lature, the coal combine and their
newspaper organs have waged persist
ent war, seeking by Misrepresentation
and distortion of facts to prejudice the
minds of the people of Tennessee
against the system.
The campaign is now being vigorous
ly waged. The republican candidate
for Governor in his speech at Chatta-
nooga vieiously attacked the system,
charging that it was crippling the coal
interests of the State, and was an in
justice to the free miners. The news
paper organs of the coal operators, par
ticularly in Knoxville, and certain mis-
guided papers at Memphis, are reiter-
ating these statements, and either thro
misinformation or Misrepresentation
are misleading the public as to the real
status of affairs. The Times invites a
careful consideration of the facts rela-
ting to this subject in the interest of
truth and justice, and in defense of the
best interests of the people of the
State.
Under the old lease system of Ten
nesSes, about 1000 coAvicts were en-
ployed in mining. The State coal mine
at Brushy Mountain employs less than
400 esAvietS in mining, handling and
delivering coal and manufacturing
coka. The total number Of Sonvicts at
the Mins at present is from 800 to 525,
100 OF whom are employed in cooking,
washing, farming and gardening and
general menial services. Why should
400 eonyicts employed by the State
play such havoc with the miuing indus
try, when under the old system 1000
convicts were employed by these same
operators, who are now most loudly
prostesting against the present system?
The answer is that the State and the
people get the profit now, while the
operators and sub-lessees got the profits
then. These operators and their news
paper organs weep piteously for "the
wife and children of the poor miner"
now. Why did not the penitentiary
ring think of this when they had nearly
three times as many convicts in compe-
tition with free miners in the same
mines and subdued these same free
miners into submission to starvation
wages?
Reports of the United States Govern
ment shows 5.123 laborers were en-
ployed in the coal mines Of Tennessee
in 1885; in 1896, after the lease system
had been abolished and 1000 or more
convicts withdrawn from the mines, the
number of free miners in the StOte in
creased to 6,531, net increase on ac-
count of the change of the convict sys-
tenn of ] All free employees.
The Government reports also show
that 2,S9S, 900 ton of coal were produced
in Tennessee in 1897. During 1897, the
States mining enterprise produced
202, 900 tons less than per cent of the
total coal output of the State for that
year. Of the States out put, nearly 10
per cent. went into the manufacture OF
coke. After supplying the State insti-
tutions, less than 100000 tons of the
States total coal production was sold
outside of the State of Tennessee. Not
a pound of coal mined by the State was
sold in Knoxville district or in the ter
ritory controlled by the Coal Greek,
Jellico and Middlesboro mines.
The State produces steam and cox
ing coal; the Coal Greek and Jelico
districts a domestic coal. How does
the sale OF less than 200, 200 tons oil
steam and coking coal produced by less
than 400 convicts endanger or even Grip
pie the production of 9,sSs, 900 tons
produced in Tennessee in 1897 by 6, 591
free miners? The coal mined by the
State was sold in markets which the
free Tennessee mines did not control,
but it came in competition with the
convict mined coal of other States.
The United States Government re-
ports show the following wholesale
price Of steam coal in 1898. The State'I
lowest sales in each market is inserted
PR1sKb OF COAL IN SOUTHERN MARKETS