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

Will be satisfactory to all.
These two questions are the ones
where the greatest fight will be made,
and in which al the miners of the
state will be interested, as well as all
the mine owners.
. w. H. Powell.
Des Moines, March 15.-(SpeciaD-
The banquet given Thursday evening
by the miners. at which the operators
were guests, had a good effect upon
both sides, and yesterday the scale
committee did good work toward set
ting matters in the second district.
Everything but top labor is settled in
that district, with the exception OF the
price for driving twelve-foot entries,
which last year vas $1.50. according to
the scale, but which this year the min
ers want to be $1.65. This will, how
ever, be compromised, in all probable
ity, and with that question and the ton
labor scale settled. trouble in the
second district will be out of the way
as far as the scale committee is con-
cerned.
Much of the discussion which took
place in the scale committee yester-
day was regarding the Interpretation
OF different parts of the scale, which
was different during the year Just fin
lshing, in different cases. The miners
W~atchWord is uniformity, and for this
principle they are making a determin-
ed fight. Late yesterday afternoon
after spending several hours in a dis
cussion CT the question from all points
OF view, the committee adopted the
present price, $4.4S, for room turning.
not to exceed nine foot neck. with the
provision that where the neck is re-
CURED to be cut more than three feet
n side the miner shall receive
50 additional. This is a, slight con
cession on the part of the operator, as
the present agreement stipulated that
the 81 extra need not be paid unless
The neck is required to be cut all on
one side.
Double Shifting Work.
The question of double shifting in
entries was settled as in last years
agreement. the price remaining at 25
cents extra. The extra provision was
made that in NJ case shall there be
double shifting in roums unless bv the
consent of the miner or miners af-
'S>SSu' ouSIS IOOIDS
when required to be cut, shall be paid
for the same as entities of similar
width.
Dead and Deficient Work.
The matter of dead and deficient
work occupied a great deal of time in
the afternoon session. The miners
wanted the companies to do all of the
brushing in soft ard har0 material,
but this was refused and after much
haggling the following agreement was
adopted, the operators allowing the
miners a small concession.
Brushing by taking up bottom or
taking down top shall be five cents an
inch measured from the bottom or the
top of the vein, as the case may be,
and of sufficient width for roadway
This is to apply to top and bottom OF
ordinary slate, o II clay material, but il
OF an unusual hard material the price
to be agreed upon locally. Failing tc
agree the company shall do the brush
ing and in such cases it shall be KEEP
up to within fifteen fact Of the face
Day Wage Scale.
The day wage scale which has gov
erned the district during the past yea
was adopted for the. coming year, witt
the addition of a price of $2.4O fol
spike team drivers doing regular
switching. The remainder of the day
wage scale, which vas adopted as il
last years agreement, is as follows:
Drivers. track layers. timbermen.
trip riders, cagers and all other
general inside labor, per day. .$2.1!
Boy couplers 1.3'
oilers per day LIZ
Trappers, per day .............. 10,
Electric motormen, per day.. "a,
Boy drivers may be used between
partings, but when used at regula.
switching, they shall be considered a
men and receive mems wages.
Compensation for miners taken from
the face shall be ten cents above tn,
wages paid drivers, and anyone refus
ing to do day work may have his turl
stopped provided he is qualified by eS
%perience to do such work, and provid
ed further that no one shall be reuui1
ed to do such day work for two cor
secutive days.
Where the company does the SHARP
ening, the price of blacksmithing shal
be l 1-3 per cent of the gross earnings
provided further that no one shall b
required to do such day work for tw
consecutive days.
Where the company does the SHARP
ening, the price of blacksmithing sha,
be l Ia per cent of the gross earnings
provided that the miners tools be gi,
en- preference over all other work don
by the blacksmiths. The tools sha.
} be sharpened in a workmanlike mar
ner.
The committee then. tried to settl
the price for twelve foot entries, tn
miners wanting $1.65. This was refus
ed by the operators, and the a~fternoo
session adjourned without furthe
work.
: Officers Installed.
Yesterday afternoon the miners he'll
! a special meeting at Odd Fellows ha
and President John Mitchell, presit
ing officer of the national union, il
stalled the officers who We're electe
!, to look after the affairs of district N,
10 during the coming year. Presider
E Reese made a short address to the m
ners, outlining his tactics for the con
ing year, hi promising virtually
, continuance of his past work in tn