The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-29

''mine boss" goes through the workings with a
safety lamp to sec that no gas has accumulated
through the night In old and abandoned work.
ings gas in dangerous quantities Is liable to ac
cu,nulate.
Until after the "Ayondale disaster. in which
something over 100 men persisted. what are
known as 'brcaltcrs" were built over the shafts
Now the state law requires that they be located
at least $50 feet from the shafts with which
they are connected, as they are liable TO take fire
and put in jeopardy the lives Of the men who are
in the mines. These breakers are large frame
structures, from seventy to ninety feet high, into
the top of which the coal as hoisted is carried
TO be broken and screened. 1t is while the coal
is passing over the screens, that separate it into
different sizes, the slate pickers do their work.
THE COST OF MINING.
Those who complain most of the price Of an.
thracitc coal are those who know the least OF
what 1t costs the operators TO mine il, and pre-.
pare and send IL to market. The original cost Of
a gOod.sized col.ery, including the sinking OF
the shafts dor every colliery is now required to
have two openings to the coaD, the machinery
necessary for the work. breaker and fixtures, is
not much less than one quarter Of a million dol.
lars. Then, If the operator mas lease of COAL he
must pay Us much az 80 cents for every ton he
takes out. He must have superintendent Of
his mines, mine boss, fire boss, engineers,
carpenters. backsmiths docking boss, weigh.
master and watchinan. The cost OF pumping the
mines so as to keep the water ont of the way OF
miners is very large item In the mining OF coal.
For every ton of coal hoistcd from many OF the
mines there must be hoistcd as much as twenty
tons OF water; and this pumping must go on day
and night, Sunday and every day, when men
work and when they are on strike. Then, after
the miners and laborers are all paid. and the
coal in the cars and prepared for market, there is
the cost Of transporting it to market. and Of sell.
ing it after it is there. We once heard coal
man, who had been reasonably successful in
Schuylkll county, say that it was a question
whether there had not been as much money ex.
pended in that region in mining coal as had
been made by the industry. 1t is certainly true
that but small per cent Of the millions Of dol
lars paid monthly to the coal operators can be
reckoned as profit. The money is very largely
paid out TO the proprictors of the coal lands
from whom the coal Is leased, and to the miners
and laboreis, and mechanics, and railroads and
middle men, Every move of ton of coal from
The time it is first looscncd in the mine until it
is safely housed in the consumers hands, adds to
its cost. State legislation may make the coal
mines safer for those who labor in them, but no
type OF legislation can ever help very much to
cheaper commodity that so fully represents
labor.
Beyond all question, the miners greatest enc.
my, and that which gives the anthracite coal
region an unsavory reputation, is strong drink.
In the Wyoming valley, including Lackawanna.
there is foreign speaking population OF nearly
100000 mostly lIungarians, Poles and Italians,
largely employed in the coal mines. who, un.
fortunately. have brought their drinking habits
with them to our country. When sober they
are quiet Industrious peacablc people. They
work hard, live frrigally, and mind their own
business. They build sanctuaries. attend church,
and are good citizens But under the influence of
drink they are utterly lawless, and do not hesi-
tate to use pistols, knives and stilletos. Most
OF their quarres are among themselves when
drinking at the saloons, or in their own houses
when assembled on some festive OCCASION