The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23
BEHALF OF MINERS.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)

DL11nLT VI un4IN I'M
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
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 manage
ment. from 1890 to 1894, inclusive, the part
nersip made large profits of over 100000
During the five years referred TO by Mr..
Markle. the government reports show that
the home value of coal produced by the an
thracite coal companies, was $l.5l per ton.
If the G. b. Markle Company could make
a profit of over $1,O00,OW in five years, when
the selling price of their coal at the mines
was S1.51, 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 s1.S7 per ton,
to enable them without detriment to their
business, to pay the anthracite mine work
| ers the small pittance asked for by them?
In his annual report to the directors of
his company, President Truesdale, of the
D. l.. q w. says, in substance, THE year
1901 will pass into history as one of the
most satisfactory, if not the banner year,
of the anthracite coal interests of this
country. The tonnage mined, purchased
and handled was much greater than any
previous year in the history of the COM
pany. The rate per ton per mile earned
on coal hauled, was S.91 mills. The present
outlook is favorable for an indefinate con-
tinuance of these favorable conditions"
The Commercial and Financial Chronicle
commenting on the report of President
that 1.-The average of anthracite selling
prices for 1901 must have been 80 to 40 cents
higher than in 1900, and the pront OF the
coal mining operations of the Delaware
81 Hudson in 1901 was $1,407, 3O7."
President Baer, the recognized spokes-
man of the coal trust, made the statement
that he was ready to submit the books of
the coal departments for our examination
in order to prove that wages could not be
increased. This proposition, on the sur
face, appears reasonable, but when dissect-
ed and analysed it is positively absurd.
Eighty-fve or 80 per cent. of all coal pro-
duced in the anthracite regions is from
mines owned and operated by the various
/ coal-carrying railroads; the freight charges
for hauling a ton of anthracite coal one
mile are three times as great as those of
| other roads for hauling a ton of bituminous
7 coal one mile, and as a consequence the
coal departments, while actually earning
enormous profits on a legitimate business,
may and do appear to be losing money
for the reason that the railway depart
ments absorb the profits of the coal de-
partments by charging the coal depart
ments exorbitant freight rates. They thus
rob Peter to pay Paul" 1t cannot be
said, in extenuation. that there is any pc
cuIiar necessity for this triple charge ON
hard coal, for all other kinds of freight
very much more troublesome to handle and
more perishable-are carried at a far lower
rate.
In connection with this subject, atten-
ton is respectfully directed to the fact that
a ton of coal, as the consumer understands
it, is not a ton of coal as the miner is paid
for it; that is to say, when the consumer
purchases a ton of coal, he receives 2,240
pounds, a legal ton, when the railroad
companys transport coal to market, they
tariff on 2,240 pounds. a legal ton; but when
the miner is being paid for his labor, he
Is required to produce and load from 2,74O
to 3,1W pounds. a legal ton; and Ii is
against this fragrant injustice that the an
thracite mine workers so vigorously and
justly protest. The operators say, of
course, that the excess weight is required
to compensate them for impurities and
refuse matter that is loaded with the coal
and cannot be marketed; but if their state
ment be true, why is il necessary to con-
tinue a system of docking, by which, at
times, they arbitrarily deduct from a mi
ner's earnings. from 10 to 10 per cent. of
the total as a penalty for loading impuri-
ties for which they have already penal
lied him in excess weight?
1t must be obvious to every intelligent
observer that the coal companies derive a
considerable income from the continuance
of this system of measuring the earnings
OF their employees, as they thus receive a
they return no compensation to the miners.
The miners have asked that the coal they
produce shall be honestly weighed and cor
rectly recorded.
MINE DANGERS.
This recital of facts disposes of the op-
orators claim that they cannot afford TO
pay living wages for faithful service and
unceasing toll amid surroundings constant
ly fraught with the gravest danger.
Inc reports Oh the mine inspectors Du-
reau of the State Of Pennsylvania show
that during the past decade the average
yearly fatalities in the anthracite coal
mines was 437, and that for the year 1891
there were asa fatal and 1.25s nonfatal ac-
cidents; this means that for every 119, 900
tons of coal brought to the surface one per
son is killed and more than two seriously
injured; it means that for each day the
mines, ARE in operation more than two per-
sons lives are sacrificed and more than
five persons are injured. Indeed, it is a
matter of record that eight times as many
men and boys are killed and injured an
nually in the anthracite coal mines of
Pennsylvania as were killed and wounded
from the American ranks in the Spanish
American war in Cuba.
Yet if one were to credit the stories that
appear i'm the columns Of the daily press
il would seem that the men who constantly
risk their lives working in the bowels of
the earth were a lawless class who have
no high conception of their duty and of
American citizenship. That they have
been grossly maligned is proved by the
records of the police courts and the testi-
mony of the chiefs of police departments
of the four largest mining communities in
the anthracite feld-namely, Scranton.
Wilkesbarre, Hazleton and Shamokin. The
reports of these cities and the statements
of the burgesses and chiefs of police prove
that there has been less infraction OF the
law and fewer arrests during the time the
strike has been In progress than for a like
period preceding Ii. In fact, a person pass
towns OF northeastern Pennsylvania would
not know that a great industrial contest is
in progress but for the presence of a per
feet army of coal and iron police. who
proudly display their revolvers and rifles
and faunt their authority in an effort to
overawe peaceful strikers or provoke them
TO acts OF violence.
AS we said in the opening paragraph of
this statement. we have done all that hon
orable men could do both 10 avert and 10
end this strike. Ii is now apparent that
the real purpose Of the coal operators is 10
destroy organization among their work
men IL, by any chance. they should sue
ceed in their d~esign-which is not at all
~ikely-another labor organization will
spring from the ruins Of the United Mine
Workers OF America. and the contest for
living wages, for humane conditions of en-
ployment. for better education. for higher
citizenship. will go on until the men who
produce coal. the originating motor power
l which drives the wheels OF commerce and