The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-18
MACHINE MINING


The executive board OF the United Mine
Workers will adjourn this morning. having
completed most OF its work yesterday after
noon. The principal matter discussed dur
ing the convention was the effect OF the use
of machines in mining coal II is stated
that the machines, which are intended to do
the pick work formerly done by hand
picks in getting beneath vein OF coal and
making it possible TO drill holes so that
the vein may be blasted out with powder.
have. instead of being a help to the miner.
proved hardship. inasmuch as that. while
they really do about one-third Of the whole
work Of getting out a certain amount or
COAL the operators charge the miners about
one-half Of the profts to pay for the work
done by the machine. 1t was decided that
when the new scale is made, in January.
an effort will be made to change conditions
so that the machines will be paid only
for the work they really do. 1t is realized
that machines are coming into use more
| largely each year and that steps must be
taken to get the best results out of them,
instead of fighting their introduction.
| Chris Evans, one of the committee, In
his discussion Of this matter in the con-
vention. said:
THE question of machine mining is one
OF the most important subjects that can
be considered at this time. The ratio be-
tween machine and pick mining needs more
attention than miners generally giving
1t Inc ract that The yearly output of ma
cnine- mined coal is increasing with such
rapiolty Is enough in itself TO prove that
pick-mined coal is fast falling 10 the rear.
On this point no argument is necessary to
convince the most skeptical that the time
stances, some action will have to be taken
perhaps at time when we are least pre-
pared Machine mining seems to have been
r 81 ,ycrfa for h.
adjustment OF mining rates. For some rea-
son IL has always been classed as one OF
the necessities that can remain in the wait
ing line. From present indications this
mode OF procedure cannot be followed
much longer. Hence, by giving due atten-
ton TO IL now, We might be able TO stave
on very serious objection to the present
form by which mining prices are based.
have not felt as deeply interested in this
question as they should The minority,
however. that was is making a desperate
nght Tor first place, and unless the present
signs OF the times fail there will be trouble
IN the camp, and the machine loader will not
De the least interested in the inevitable
suit. Statistics tell US that in the year
1895 10, 424,9S2 tons of coal were mined by
machines. In 1895, we are told from the
same source, 32,413,1H tons were mned
an increase of l59SS,2l2 tons. or nearly
double the amount mined by machines the
two years previous. During the year 1898
the year 1899, or nearly 10Oa0O0o tons III is
fair to assume that during the present wear
enere wen De no step backward In the yearly
increased amount of machine-mined coal
That much larger increase of machine
coal Will be mined than in any former years
there seems very little room for doubt
Granting the same ratio continues IN ia
very easy to understand what a Formidable
question machine mining will be q few years
hence. The low prices for coal have been
attributed to the increased AMOUNT of coal
mined by machines. But how has II af-
fected the machine miner? Ever since ma
chimes were first introduced into the mines
the miner working after them has never
received an equal price with pick mining
for labor performed. There is no just rea.
son for this, and If the statement that be-
cause OF cheaply mined coal through the
introduction of machinery In mines prices
are so affected to decrease, rather than
increase, the miners wages, Is IL not time
the machine miners put in a bid for equity
and justice on the fines indicated? The
cause the more inequalities are found 10
exist. In the late statistics given by the
Ohio mine inspectors report on the adj
vanced prices for pick and machine miners
for 1898 II is stated that pick miners re-
ceived an advance of "a cents per day, while
the machine miner was paid an advance of
IL cents per day, an inequality of q cents
per day, or 1851 for the years work said
to be III days. With this advance OF n
cents per day the miner that has been
shooting and loading coal after the machine
Is now receiving the munificent sum of 81 80
per day, where he puts in a full days
work"