Amador ledger., 1903-04-24
STILL UNSETTLED.

between the contendlng forces has
become sharply defined within the
past few days. The continuance of
the trouble hinges on the question
of working hours The union men
ask for eight hours to constitute a
days work. The working hours in
this district are now ten. The mine
owners are ready to meet the en-
ployes half way, and concede nine
hours, at the same rate of pay as
now prevails. For several days it
was thought that this medium
ground afforded basis for a speedy
settlement. The compromise agree
ment, however, is differently inter
preted by the respective parties.
and so they are still somewhat apart.
In the meantime the mining inter
ests of the county are at a stand
still. The industry tied up by this
strike represents more than one-half
of the total business of the county.
1t is not alone in the number of
miners thrown out of work that the
public suffers. The dependent in
dustries-lumber, logging, teaming,
freighting, and tradesmen gener-
ally-feel the pressure equally with
the main industry itself. At a
rough estimate the community is
suffering loss of three thousand
dollars per day. The greater por-
tion of this loss falls upon Jackson.
This means an average shrinkage of
revenue of between so cents and 81
per day per head. No wonder that
the possibility of the continuance of
such condition of affairs fills every
tradesman and property holder with
alarm. Two weeks have passed,
during which two pay days have
been had. Still the shrinkage in
business has been keenly felt. It
will be felt more keenly as the sus-
pense and uncertainty drag along.
A strike in a gold mining COM
munity is a different thing from a
strike in any other branch of busi-
ness. 1t must be judged as to its
probable results from different
standpoint. Gold has a fixity of
value not possessed by any other
article. 1t is the standard by which
the value of all other commodities,
including labor, is determined. The
only fuctuation that gold expert
ences, is caused by the fuctuation
in the value of other articles, and
the resultant increase or decrease in
the purchasing power of the money
metal. In times of business de-
preston, when prices are low, a
twenty dollar piece will go much
further in the purchase of commodi-
ties than in a time of boom prices
incident to prosperous times. The
wave of hard times that swept over
the country five or six years ago
left Jackson untouched. In fact, we
enjoyed better times in those lean
years than we have experienced in
the fat times since. The reason is
plain. In times of depression, capi-
tai seeks investment in gold mining.
as offering safer outlet for its en-
ployment than other pursuits. In
boom times, when all other products
are on the upgrade, and gold re-
mains stationary, other enterprises
present greater attractions for in
vestment than gold mining. In
manufacturing pursuits, and in min
ing operations, outside of gold min
ing, any additional expense in the
way of increased wages or extra
cost of material, can be met by
raising the price of the product to
point that will meet the enhanced
cost of production This remedy,
however, is not available for the
gold producer, and hence we say
that gold mining stands in class
by itself.
With ledge heavily freighted
with the precious metal-like the
ores of the Comstock in bonanza
times-an hour more or less in the
working day, or half a dollar per
diem increase of wages, were mat
ters Of little moment. A shutdown
on such propositions was not to be
dreamed of. The margin of profit
was so wide that considerations of
such nature were dwarfed into in
significance. But the mother lode
OF Amador county is a long way
from being in this category. We
have had our bonanzas it is true. It
is hoped that bonanzas are still
hidden away in the lode, waiting
to reward the mining investor of the
future. AS rule, however, it de-
mands the closest management to
make our mines yield anything over
running expenses. The common
idea that gold mine must neces.