Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-18

as men and shall receive mems wages.
Box car men and top men, pc. day.
SLIGO.
But in no case shall a reduction
from the present price he made on any
man receiving more than SLIGO per
day.
Outside drivers, for outside work
only, and transfers, per day, SLIGO.
Sinkers, per day of s hours, $2.40.
The price of smithing shall be one
per cent of the gross earnings, pro-
vided that the miners tools be given
preference over all other work done
by the blacksmith, and the tools shall
be sharpened in a workmanlike man
ner.
In accordance with the state law
the company shall furnish all the
necessary timbers at the mouth Of the
room, and the miner shall keep his
room securely propped. Ii the miner
working in a room fails to securely
build his road wall within three feet
or his COB within four feet of the
working face providing he has mater
ial to COB with, he may be discharged,
and ii he is not satisfied with the de-
cision of the mine foreman an appeal
may be taken as provided for in res
olution No. 10 of the Ottumwa agree
ment. In the last paragraph the OPP
orators verbally agreed to accept the
Interpretation of "all necessary tim
bers" as including cap pieces.
The Second District.
In the second sub-district some
work was done. but the committee tied
itself Zip on the price to be paid for
twelve foot entry driving. The scale
provides now that this price be $1.50
per yard, but in some mines $1.70 and
in others Sligo is being paid. The
miners wanted $1.70. but the operators
asked hat the whole district pay $1.50
which was refused by the miners.
Thus the matter stood at the time Of
the adjournment of the afternoon ses-
sion. The price for screened lump
coal, SIS cents. was adopted the same
as last years scale. and the following
prices were also adopted:
Lucas county thin vein, over
screens adopted for sub-district No. /,
all work to be single, per ton $1.05.
Eight foot entry, per yard, $3.50.
The miners found some little fault
with last years provision for mine
run, but they adopted the same clause
relating to it, with the understanding
that this matter will be taken up
again and that their claims will be con-
sidered. These claims are to the eff
feet that the maximum is not high
enough to pay the miner a fair wage
when the agreement is applied to such
mines as one at What Cheer, where
the coal is soft and breaks up, max
ing too great an amount of screenings.
The clause from last years agreement
relating to this matter is as follows:
No mine run price is made in the
second district, but it is hereby agreed
that any rhine may make such coal
when sale for same is found and the
price shall be what a test at such
mine shows the relative prices on
such coal, based on the price at such
mine for screened lump coal, provided
that the minimum price shall be sixty
cents and the maximum sixty-five
cents per ton, and provided further
that the mines which are 10Y on a
mine run basis shall be continued or
that basis during the life of this
agreement, except that any mine or
the mine run basis shall be permitted
Ito CLulh W IL luluP Doolo WISuSfSl
said mine shall by actual test show q
sufficient percentage of lump to war
rant it to be placed upler the genera.
agreement.
The Screens.
No change was made with regard tt
the screens in the second sub-district
the clause regarding them being adopt
ed by the committee as follows:
The screens will be fiat or akron
shaped bars of not less than five
eighths of an inch surface with on.
and three-eighths inches between tn,
bars, provided that where diamond
bars are now in use, with not NOR,
than one and one-quarter inches be
tween the bars and in proper condi
ton said screens may be retained.
Bright Prospects.
Prospects are growing brighter TO
an agreement that will be at least fair
ly satisfactory to all concerned. TIL,
miners are not getting all they hat
hoped for, and neither are the opera
tors, but it is a game of give and tax
in a measure, and is proving satisfac
tory. With a few exceptions, the seal
proper will, according to present ind
cations, be adopted with but few in
portant changes from last year, tn,
most important being the one TO
which the miners have taken a decide
stand-a uniform day wage scale a
over the state. Whether or not the
will get this remains to be seen, blu
from what they Jay they intend t
make a strong fight for it.
Where the Trouble Lies.
: The trouble, however, if there is t
be a great deal, will come with tn
5 consideration of the general resoll
tons affecting the entire state. Thes
follow the scale proper, and the nun
Der runs into the teens. Some c
them will not need changing, but Their
are others which the miners wan
changed and still others which the OF
orators want modified. The miner
are determined to have shot tirer'
while the operators are equally firm i
their determination to have some qua,
antee that they may be assured
more steady work on the part of thei
employees during the coming year. Bot
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