Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-09-15
THIRTY PER CENT GAIN.
Wonderful Revival In Black
Diamond Industry.
GAN NOT GET ENOUGH WoRKMBN.

Improvement In the Condition of The
Ohio Miners In the Last Three Years
IL Noted.
A leading coal operator of Ohio said
last week: "The coal miners are bet
ter off today than at any time since
1892. In April, 1898, the scale for min
Ing was increased from 61 cents per
to 66 cents per ton. While it is true
there has been no further increase in
the wages of coal miners this year, ev-
cry miner has work. Large coal fields
have recently been opened in Kansas,
Michigan and other states. There has
been a surplus of miners in Ohio for
several years, but these have all gone
to the new mines. The Hooking Valley
operators have great difficulty in get
ting men. The Michigan operators are
advertising for men all over Ohio The
inspector of mines in West Virginia
reported about two weeks ago that
1900 miners from single district in
that state had gone to the Kansas
fields. The Ohio miners are making
| from S1.75 to $2.25 per day. All of this
prosperity comes in spite of the very
low price of coal and the great diff
! Guilty of shipping on account of the lack
of railroad facilities"
r. M. Hazeltine, chief inspector of
mines for Ohio, has almost completed
| his report for the year 1898. 1t will
| show that the total output Of coal in
the state for last year was 14,05S, 1876
! short tons, an increase of 1609, 1876 tons
over the year 1897. Speaking of this
great increase in production, Mr.. Ha-
zeltine will say in his report: 1T is
gratifying to know that although the
greater portion of the year (1S9S) was
cne of general lethargy in the coal
trade, but twice in the states history
has the years production been exceed
ed, namely in 1892 and 1893. During
the early part of 1898 and extending
well into the Lake season, there was
little or no activity at the mines. AS
the close of the season approached, the
| greatest energy prevailed and owing
| W lhC ltNlNdl III lhltl-
ests, the demand continued through
out the remainder of the year.
Speaking of the present condition of
the coal trade, Mr.. Hazeltine says:
"The production of coal in Ohio for
1899 will undoubtedly break all rec
ords. The big boom in the business
began last winter and the mines were
operated all winter for the first time
in the history of the state The coal
railroads are all replacing their old
1S-ton and cotton cars with new cars
of 40-ton capacity, yet the Hooking
valley mines have thousands of tons
waiting for transportation
In his report for 1897 Mr..
Hazeltine said: "The industrial
depression which prevailed dur
ing the past four and one-half years
continued to greater or less degree
in the mining industry alone during
the year 1897. 1t was particularly Sc
we're during the fore part of the year,
great dissatisfaction prevailing in all
branches of trade. 1t became so general
that on July national suspension
was ordered and the mines of the state
remained inactive until September II,
when work was resumed at Sc cents per
ton, an increase of five cents per ton"
When the report of Mr.. Hazeltine for
the year 1S97-a great year when COM
pared with 1896, 1895 and 1S94-is con-
trasted with his reports for 1898 and
1899, the wonderful revival of industry
is apparent. There is now no talk of
reproduction of coal. On the con-
tcary men cannot be fcuad 10 operate
the mines and fill orders, and railroads
have not enough cars to transport the
coal to the manufacturing centers.
gives a few additional facts regard
ing the present situation in the mining
districts. 1t says:
"An era of prosperity prevails in the
Hooking valley such as has not been
experienced since 1892.
-Four hundred cars of coal each day
are being shipped from this point. The
railroad men are working night anC
day. Miners who were in want fol-
the necessaries Of life during the years
of Democratic hard times are recover
ing from the long period of depression
in the mining business.
"All mines in the vicinity are running
every day that they can get cars
Scarcity of cars is the only thing tha
prevents them from running at thei
full capacity In order to overcome
this drawback the Hooking Vale.
J railway has ordered $500 new 4O-tol
roal cars"
In 1895 Ohio miners were being pait
81 cents per ten and work was scare
at that figure, few men being able t
get employment for more than tw
or three days per week. That was on
of the results of three years of the viii
son free trade tariff and Democrat
mismanagement of governmental al
fairs.