The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-14
VETERAN CITIZENS LISTEN TO
DESCRIPTION ON COAL REGION.

A regular meeting OF the Rhode Island
Historical association was held yester-
day afternoon at the Mathewson Street
M. Z. church. The president OF the asso-
citation Mr.. Daniel A. Cook presided.
Francis Gallagher, the secretary. read
his reports. There was a good attendance
and much interest manifested in the pro-
ceedings. Added pleasure and profit was
given to the meeting by the presence and
service OF Mrs. Mary z. Whitman OF East
Greenwich. who of late has been unable
to attend by reason OF disability. Miss
Anna +. Holden, her friend and neighbor
was on motion of Mrs. Hattie W. b.
Chaffee elected member OF the associa-
tion.
The president in brief yet eloquent re-
marks rendered tribute TO the memory
Of former esteemed member the late
Mr.. Edward !. Ham of this city.
The secretary gave notice as required
that at the next meeting which is TO be
held next December he will suggest that
action be taken with the aid of the legis-
lature TO change the title of the associa-
ton by the removal of the words "Veter-
an Citizens"
He also mentioned that the commission
er of industrial statistics. the Hon. Henry
f. Tiepke, had presented many Of his
published reports as gift TO the asso-
citation.
On motion Of the secretary the thanks
OF the association was bestowed upon the
giver.
IN THE COAL REGION.
Mr.. Henry f. Tiepke gave an interest
ing and instructive address, entitled "Ob-
servations in the Anthracite Coal Re-
gions," in part as follows:
He oto al hat n
formation had been obtained from the
mine regions for the reason that the coal
operators had been very close mouthed
with many investigators and the miners
were inclined TO be suspicious. The cre-
dentials which he took with him as rep
resentative of a state government, made
II very easy 10 get information from
both sides. Reference was made To the
every day life Of the miner and his work
I'm the mines. Mention was made OF the
fact that the system OF dockage caused
no end OF trouble. the miner being con-
stantly in fear that his pay VIII be ma
terially reduced because of the proper
tions OF impurities that might be sent up
with the coal that he mined Besides
that. the men failed TO get full time.
making their average for months work
lower than was commonly reported,
most miners receiving not over SIS per
month.
A miner must be skilled In mining.
must have worked at least two years In
the anthracite mines OF the state OF Penn
sylyanla. and pass an examination before
he receives license as a miner. until
that time ne II a mere laborer. Not
enough care IL taken in the granting OF
licenses. but even under the system as IL
exists so long as the United Mine WORK
ers could control the licensed miners they
had control OF the situation. No unii-
censed miner could he brought In 20 take
their places and that was what prolonged
tho strike
MINING OF COAL.
Mr.. Ticpkc described the way in which
the coal IL mined. the regulations that
prevailed below ground. the underground
hospital the underground stable for the
mules that drew the cars TO the shaft
the method and danger In blasting and
the danger I'm handling the cars. II a
miner was paid by the car and was en-
titled 10 six cars per day 20 carry away
the coal that he mined. he was not always
sure Of getting the full number. and that
was the universal complaint. There was
n good deal Of favortism In the minet
and the men most remote from the shaft
Jared the worst Some Of the miners
lived In wretched. uncomfortable homes.
and not IN the state OF case and luxury
which so many persons have thought they
lived.
Mr.. Tiepke closed his address by an