The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-23

wear
against which the operators so bitter
~ complain, the mines were in opera
loh 1S4.2 days and there were produc-
| ed 4fo.43 tons for eSch person en-
| ployed, or for each day the mines were
IN operation, 2.36 tons were produced
per employe, thus showing that instead
OF deterioration, there was a decided
~, os ae IN the productive capac-
lly or the men after they be-
came thoroughly organized. Can the
unpreJudiced reflect upon these facts
and conclude that the anthracite min
er is not better workman than he
was before the 10 per cent commission
In wages two years ago?
Figures on the Railroads
The railroad presidents contend that
they cannot increase wages without
making corresponding increase in the
selling price of their product to the
consumer, and have accused the mine
| workers of suggesting a proposition
that would impose a hardship upon
the public by increasing the market
price of coal 10 cents a ton, the amount
that would have been required to meet
all the demands made by the miners,
however, their solicitude for the public
veal has not deferred them from ad-
Vancing the market price of coal more
than 81 per ton since the strike was
of their increase to the mine work.
ers. In substantiation of our claim
that the coal companies can afford to
pay increased wages to the mine work.
ers without increasing the cost of coal
to consumers, we submit the following
extracts from the government reports
showing the selling value of coal load
ed on cars at the mines for the eleven
years, beginning from 1890 and ending
with 1900, as compared with 1901. The
average home value of all coal mined
and sold during this period was SLAB
per ton, while a press bull
letin recently issued by Charles
D. Walcott, director of the
United States geological survey,
says that for the year 1901, 1.-The in
crease in the value of the anthracite
product received at the mines showed
a gain of S27,746, 1853, or more than 81
per cent. over that of 1900. The aver
age price for the marketed coal, that
is, the product shipped to market or
sold to local trade, was $1.S7, the high
est figure obtained since 1888" In 9TH
e. words. while, according to Presi-
cent Olyphant, 10 cents per ton repre-
sents the operators increased cost of
production in 1901, 80 cents per ton, as
compared with 1900, represents the in
! creased value of the product to the OPP
orators. In view of the fact that this
enormous increase in the selling price
of coal has been extorted from the con-
sumner by the coal trust, can anyone
say that the demands of the miners for
a small portion of the INCREASED wealth
their labor produces are unreasonable
or unwarranted?
\ Coal Operators Evidence.
Further evidence of the ability of the
coal mine operators to pay increased
wages is found in the sworn testimony
of Mr.. John Markle, managing partner
of the G.. B. Markle Coal Company.
This firm operates the three mines in
the Lehigh region. and is known as an
independent operator. In the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania, Markle vs. Will
bur pennsylvania State Reports, page
200) John Markle was sworn, and
during his testimony swore that he was
appointed superintendent or manager
by the articles of copartnership at a
salary of $4,000 per year, and
that under his management
from 1890 to 1894, inclusive, the part
nership made large profits of over ST.
OOO, 00O''
During the five years referred to
by Mr.. Markle the government reports
show that the home value of coal pro-
duced by the anthracite coal compan-
les was $1.51 per ton. If the G. b.
Markle Company could make a profit
of over $1,000000 in five years when the
selling price of their coal at the mines
was $151, does it not seem reasonable
to suppose that the larger companies.
whose cost of production is necessarily
less could make a sufficient profit in
1901, when the home value of their coal
was $1.S7 per ton, to enable without
detrment to their business, to pay the
anthracite mine workers the samll
pittance asked for by them?
Cost in Human Life.
The reports of the mine inspectors
bureau of the state of Pennsylvania
show that during the past decade the
average yearly fatalities in the anthr-
! acite coal mines were 437: and that
| for the year 1901 there were 494 fatal
! and 1885 non-fatal accidents; this
means that for every 119, 900 tons of coal
brought to the surface one person is
! killed and more than two seriously
| injured; it means that for each day
| the mines are in operation more than
two persons lives are sacrificed and
more than five persons are injured. IN
deed, it is matter of re-
cord that eight times as many men
and boys are killed and injured an
nually in the anthracite coal mines OF
| PENNSYLVANIA as were killed ana
wounded from the American ranks in
the Spanish American war in Cuba.
| Yet if we are to credit the stories
| that appear in the columns of the
daily press it would seem that the men
who constantly risk their lives work.
ing in the bowels of the earth were
lawless class, who have no high con-
ception of the duties of American cit
| izenship; that they have been grossly
maligned is proved by the records of
the police courts and the testimony of
the chiefs of police departments of
the four largest mining communities
in the anthracite field namely, Scran-
ton. Wilkesbarre, Hazleton and Sham
okin.
The reports Of these cities and the
statements of the burgess and chiefs
of police prove that there have been
less infraction of the law and fewer
arrests during the time the strike has
been in progress than for like period
preceding 81 in fact, person passing
! through the coal fields and mining
towns of Northeastern Pennsylvania,
would not know that a great indus
! trial contest is in progress, but for the
presence of a perfect army OF coal ana
iron notice. who proudly display their
revolvers and rifles, and Haunt their
authority In an effort to overawe
peaceful strikers or provoke them to
acts of violence.
Purpose of the Operators.
II is declared that II is now appar-
emf that the real purpose of the coal
operators is to destroy organization
among their workmen.
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