The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-09-17
ANENT PRICE OF COAL
President Edwin Perry Answers Mr..
Rosebrook.

oskaloosa, Ia, Sept, 11.-Editors
Herald:--In your issue Of September
! there appears an article from the
pen Of L. r. Rosebrook, under the
caption, Goal is too High" ETC.
While 1t is not my business what
the dealers charge for coal, the pub
lie has right to know the true facts.
Mr.. Rosebrook informs US that his
dealer at Gilman, Iowa, charges $1.04
per ton in excess Of the price +. o. B.
cars at that place. Justice demands
that the truth should be known.
First-The dealer out of this $1.04
has to stand all shrinkage, the cost
Of unloading and possibly hauling in
some instances, also loss from re-
handling. Now we all know that coal
even in Oskaloosa is selling for $500
per ton from the local mines and only
75c per ton more is charged at Gil
man, after paying freight.
Mr.. Rosebrook also assumes that
the labor question is responsible for
all the ills which he is suffering I'M
der. Now, let us see for ourselves.
I make the claim, supported by
facts, that the average production OF
coal, per miner, is equally as high
now as it was in the days when there
was no organization among the min
ers of this state. Reference to- the
inspectors report, now and then, will
satisfy any fair.minded person of this
fact. All that will be necessary is to
take the aggregate production, the
number of men employed, and total
number of days worked and the result
will be conclusive. 1t must also be
taken into consideration that our
men do not produce coal on idle days,
or when the mine is not in operation.
While in the past they worked a
great deal of the time producing coal
on idle days, when the mines were
not in operation.
Mr. Rosebrook also states that he
is paying $1,000 weekly, over and
above their living expenses. Let US
see If this assertion is supported by
facts, and I will take his own figures.
All men who work in and around the
mines are members of our mine
workers organization, and Mr.. Rose
brook paid us $4,000, being / per cent
assessment on the gross earnings of
his men for the first Is days of Aug
ust, which represents the aggregate
earnings of his members to be 81
10000, deducting 12Hs for mine ex-
penses, which is low average,
amounting to 100000, we have 81
10000 left for 10 days, being less
than 100000 each week all told,out
of which must be deducted their liv-
ing expenses, store accounts, ETC.,
then where does the $1,500.00 weekly
paid the miners come in? Is it pos
sible that Mr.. Rosebrook has not
paid all that is due the organization
on the assessment, or has he resorted
to means peculiar to himself to boil
ster up his cause. / would rather be
charitable enough to believe 1t is the
latter. ...ss
Knowing Mr.. Rosebrook as | do,
as to his last charge Of men losing so
much time, to this can only answer,
that if the miner violates his agree
ment by not working full time, there
is a penalty that he should avail him
self. of, but it must be taken into
consideration that the officers of the
state organization have always CO.
operated with Mr.. Rosebrook to bring
about better results, etc.
Edwin Perry,
Pres. Dist. No. IS, U. M. w. of A.