, 1900-09-25
STATIONS GREAT iNDEPEND.
ENCE MINE IN CRIPPLE
CREEK DISTRICT.
Men Object to ar Order Requiring
Them to Strip to the Skin Before
Leaving the Mine Property-com-
pany Ordered Mine Closed Until
Men Agree.

was pTOIlulSdleu ny Tie tldltoA LII
dependence, Limited, Mining company
today. When the miners came out OF
the ground at 2 o'clock this afternoon
and stepped from the cage they were
confronted by the following sign, post
ed in the shafthouse within 10 feet of
the shaft:
This mine is shut down at the eX,
piration of I o'clock shift. We shall be
ready to reopen the mine at 7 o'clock
tomorrow morning, oath inst. Applica-
tons for jobs under the new rules may
be made to the superintendent at once.
"Stratton's Independence, Ltd"
The rules referred to are as follows:
Rule l. All underground men, shaft
top men, cagers, ore sorters and tram
mers from ore houses must change all
their clothes when going on Or com
ing off shift, and pass from n room
in our change house to the other I'M
dressed, and under observation of the
Waterman.
Rule 2. All men affected by Rule l
shall, when going on shift, enter the
change room at east door, and after
changing clothes, pass out west door.
When coming off shift, enter at west
door and pass out east door.
Rule 3. Smoking and use of intox-
icants positively prohibited while on
shift"
Six Companies Sign.
Just below this notice was a type
written notice reading as follows:
The undersigned mines hereby
agree to adopt a uniform system for
change rooms. Change rooms shall
have two compartments; one for dig
ging clothes and the other for dress
clothes. The change rooms shall be
completed at as early a date as pas
sible. All underground men, shaft top
men. cagers and ore sorters shall be
required to change all their clothes
when going on or coming off shift, and
shall pass from one room to the other
~undressed under the observation of
the Waterman"
This was signed by STATIONS indie
pendence, Limited, H. A. Shipman,
manager; the Gold Coin NJ. & l.. Co,
F. NJ. Woods, manager; Portland G,
NJ. Co, James F. Burns, president; the
| ma No., NJ q NJ 10 Col Tn
superintendent; the Mary Mckinnie
Mining Co, George l.. Keener, super
intendent; Last Dollar G. NJ. Co., Chas.
Walden. superintendent; Vindicator
Con. G. NJ. Co., F. J. Campbell, secre-
tary and manager.
While the men were c~ongregated
about these manifestoes, Superintend-
ent H. A. Shipman, Of the mine, ad-
dressed those in the shaft house and
ore house ana explained that the nu-
merous thefts of ore had determined
the course of the independence COM
pany and other companies represent
ed in the notice. The men went away
quietly and during the afternoon ten
of them called for their time and were
paid off.
Expect Men to Show Up.
The management expects three
fourths of it's employees to show up for
work tomorrow morning.
A correspondent called at the office
of the company this afternoon and
found both Superintendent Shipman
and Secretary r. j. Grant ready and
Willing to discuss the order. Mr.. Ship
man said:
The agreement has been talked of
for some time and has been signed up
within the last two weeks. The pur.
|pose of the change house, as explained
by the company, is, first, for the pro-
lection of the company's property, and
second, to prevent the miners from
jobbing one another, SO that each man
who makes the change goes out with,
out any suspicion upon his honor"
IF the men make the change, will
the company no longer suspect them
of stealing ore"
There is no If about it," remarked
Mr.. Grant, the men will change, II we
have to close down the mine first"
when the change is made" said
Mr.. Shipman, in reply to the original
auestion, 1.-The management will be sat
isfed that no ore goes out on the per
sons of the miners"
Some of the miners have said," re
marked the newspaper man. that you
should come from the mine, and sus'
pect the miners of stealing Ore that
does not exist"
Mr.. Grant replied: "The mine has
never been In better condition than II
is today. We will let you go down any
time you name and make an examina
Ition for yourself"
Mr.. Grants Estimate.
How much ore has been stolen, &C
cording to your estimates?" Mr.. Ship
man answered that he Appropriated
the loss at from $4,000 to $15, 900 pei
month. and perhaps more.
In explaining the conditions thai
have let up to the order for exchange
mr.. Grant said that stealing had beer
going on for three years. that is, be
fore Mr.. Stratton sold the mine to tn