The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-06
Conditions Better Than Elsewhere
In the West.
PEOPLE ARE COMMENTED
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONERS so
EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
Nowhere Have They Found Such Ev-
licences of Thrift, Good Order and
Good Government-Hearing Was
Closed Yesterday With Testimony
of Coal Mine Officials.

The Subcommittee of the industrial
commission on mines and mining con-
cluded its labors in this city yesterday
and Chairman Bell expressed himself
as being very much gratified with the
conditions existing in this state, as
shown by the evidence brought out be-
fore the committee. The gentleman
congratulated the people of the state
on their happy and contented lot, and
stated that in no place where tLey had
taken testimony had they found such
| evidences of thrift, good order and good
government as existed in Utah.
In the forenoon State Inspector of
Coal Mines Conner Thomas and ex-Rep-
resentative c. A. Calls of Summit
county We're on the stand. In the af-
ternoon the committee closed it's work
| with the examination of Mr. w. G.
Sharp, general superintendent of the
Pleasant Valley Coal company.
Mine Inspector Thomas.
After the usual preliminary questions
4 had been answered, Mr.. Thomas gave
! the daily production of the coal mines
OF the state at $500 tons at present. The
state mad been producing coal in large
!, quantities for forty years, and the sup
] ply was practically inexhaustible. La
Dor conditions We're good and men were
| contented; wages were a little lower
now than formerly; so was living.
Coal miners were not organized, be-
! cause employer and employees get
along well together. Laws were favor
able to miners and no strikes occurred.
Coal at the mines was usually worth
" a ton on the dump; at 100 miles from
the mines, 81 to S475, due to high
| freight rates. ftt
After describing the system of COM
pany stores, boarding houses. etc, Mr.
/ Thomas said that good miners earned
an average of about S2.65 net in eight
hours. Coal miners, as a class. COM
pared favorably with men in other avo-
cations. About two-thirds of them are
men of family and one-third of them
own their own homes. They have good
| school facilities, and education was
encouraged by mine operators
The eight-hour law was generally
satisfactory to operators and men
alike; ii had caused no cut in wages.
Miners take out from four to six tons
on shift and get on an average so
cents ton, but the expense of powder
and oil has to come out of that. Driv-
ers received $3.50 day before the
eight-hour law went into effect, and
get the same now.
SOAip diAy olOic OySIch
'"About the company store system
again. Can't a man get credit any
where else?''
Yes, sir; most coal camps have sew
eral stores and the men can get credit
on their own responsibility; no preju-
dice exists; a man can spend his money
where he likes; he is not tied down;
there is no compulsion; some of them
come to Salt Lake to trade"
h.
men were organized into unions?"
II hardly blink there could be-
rs it your province to suggest to the
legislature the need of inspection laws
for metal mines?"
Yes. SIR
Have you ever done SOP"
Has the governor done so?"
II think not
C. A. Calls.
Witness had lived in Utah thirty
years and had been employed in and
about coal mines, for fifteen years uD
to nine months ago. when he was
elected as prosecuting attorney of Sum-
nit county.
How does the condition of capital
invested in coalymining compare with
conditions existing years ago."
Capital is safer, but profits are not
- ie1A PliOtS nave DttAl
downwards for years.
Wages were not SO large, but miners
could produce more. owing to improved
appliances, tools, etc.
How do the railroads treat indepen-
dent concerns?"
There is much complaint from small
operators. Big companies get the best
rates. though small concerns are
treated better of late years.
The mental, moral and social condi-
ton of the coal miner was much better
than ten years ago. The eight-hour
law, he thought, was responsible for it.
as it gave more time for study; the
newspaper was also responsible, in a
measure, as it was a great educator.
Coal miners were good readers and
we'll posted on topics of the day. Coal
miners have a disposition to settle
down. which indicates stability and a
desire to become better citizens. The
miners of Summit county were all So
Der and industrious There was no
company boarding houses and no crime.
Semi-monthly Paydays.
Witness thought miners should be
paid oftener; twice instead of once a
month, because on the latter plan he
has to run store bills Cash was cheap
er to trade with. Men often had to
have credit in beginning work, and fire.
quent paydays might entail more cost
to employers. but the system could be
so arranged that it would work no
hardship.
Arbitration laws, he thought, should
be improved. The present law was not
generally invoked because miners were
ignorant of it's provisions.
Coal mining legislation was of recent
origin in this state. Laws to protect
labor were improving. The governor
stands in with laboring men by attach
ing his signature to bills for their
benefit.
There were no organizations of labor
because people are generally of a con-
ciliatory nature Compulsory arbitra-
ton may some day come, but it was
unnecessary now.
Church and Labor Unions.
BY Mr.. Kennedy-You are in favor
of labor organizations; you are a men,
Der of the Mormon church, are you
not2
Yes. sir"
Does the church teach that organ
lied labor breeds anarchy?'
Never heard of it; cannot say that
the church teaches joining them. how
ever. 1t teaches them sobriety and to
use conciliatory methods"
In closing, Mr.. Calls said the coal
miners were much pleased with the
work of the commission, as they felt