The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-03
FIGURES SHOWING
HOW MUCH COAL
MINERS EARN
Statistical Day Before the
Anthracite Commission
Denial of the Assertion
That a Reign Of Terror Ex-
listed During the. Strike.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. q
Mine operators today finished the
presentation of evidence to the an
thracite coal strike commission, and
the afternoon session was devoted to
testimony in rebuttal on the part of
the miners. Much statistical evidence
was offered by the Reading company,
showing the conditions existing in the
coal fields and comparing the prosper
ity of the mine workers and their chill
dren with that of persons engaged in
other occupations in various cities. w.
w. Ruley, head of statistical bureau
conducted by the coal-carrying roads,
was called to testify regarding the coal
production, the amount of the COM
modify shipped and the prices receiv-
ed. The data, he said, We're furnished
by the coal companies.
A. c. Wilson, land agent for the
Reading company presented state
ments showing the property. H. L.
NeWcomb, StatiStician for the inter-
state commerce commission, introduce
ed tables showing the average annual
earnings during 1901 of workmen en-
ployed in several manufacturing towns
of Pennsylvania. The statistics af-
fected 47S,7S0 wage earners and the
wages amounted to 1921, 138,149, or an
average of $462 man. The average in
New York, the witness said, was about
difference was immaterial. The av-
erage daily earnings of anthracite
miners, the witness said. were about
$2.O5. making the yearly average about
$500
Statements were presented showing
that in four counties in the hard coal
region the total bank deposits amount
ed to $5S, 261 1886, or a per capita de-
post of $3.50. In eight counties of the
bituminOuS region the bank deposits
were $41,S20,611, per capita of $60.40
Ia seven agricultural counties the total
deposits amounted to $55,7S9241, a per
capita of ST. SO. In four counties in
the anthracite region the value of tax
able property was given as $215, 49,
l52; in eight counties in the soft coal
region, Spa, 585, 1876: in seven counties
in the agricultural district, 1886, 016,-
200.
That Isn't Saying Much.
Maj. J. Michner. in charge of the
Reading company's telegraph office at
Philadelphia, said that breaker boys
worked shorter hours and received
better pay than telegraph messengers
and boys in department stores.
The presentation of these statistics
ended the testimony for the operators.
Counsel for the Reading company in
formed the commission that President
Baer desired to correct the statement
that he charged the mine workers with
the responsibility for twenty-one muir
ders during the strike.
Counsel for the miners denied the
published statement that the union
had withdrawn it's demand that the
miners in the Schuylkill region be paid
by weight. The demand for pay by
weight, he said, did not affect the
Schuylkill district, where it is i'm
practicable
The afternoon session was devoted
entirely to rebuttal testimony. r. J.
Beamish, a newspaper man, was called
to refute the statements that a reign
of terror existed in the coal regions
during the strike. A dozen men who
had been hired in this city to serve as
coal and iron policemen during the
strike said the disturbances were few
and OF minor character. Daniel Nc
kelVey, justice of the peace of Ha-
zieton, testified that the striking min
ers had offered to assist him in main
tanning order.