The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-07
WORK THE MINES.
Hurley Says Necessity May Arise
to Hire other Men.
DevIin Trustee Makes Statement
About the Strike.
MINERS WELL PAID.
They Averaged 1910 a Day for
Eight Hours Work.
Their Demands Would Greatly
Increase Cost of Production.


reasons for the strike in the coal mines
of Kansas, particularly in those which
belong to the Devlin estate, and the
present conditions surrounding the
strike was given today by James E.
Hurley, general manager of the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway COM
pany and one of the trustees of the
Devlin estate.
In concluding his statement about the
matter Mr.. Hurley regrets that there
are disturbed relations etween the
operators and the miners and hat there
may be a necessity of manning the
mines with other men if the strike is
prolonged.
This is the statement made by Mr..
1T is the thought that possibly the
people Of Kansas as well as the pur-
chasers and of coal and more
particularly the long time patrons of
the mines operated by the trustees of
the Devlin estate SHOULD know some
thing of the conditions, or rather, the
reasons that the mines in southern
Kansas are not being operated at this
time.
.The trustees of the Devlin estate. as
servants of the court and creditors Of
the estate. are anxious to handle the
property with absolute fairness and
equity to all interests and at the same
time to the very best possible advan-
tage of the estate. Mr.. Devlin has
operated the mines in southern Kan
sas since 1896 without a strike, and in
fact, there has not been a disturbance
in that district since 1898, a period of
Is years. [ am quite sure it viii be
conceded by the miners or employees
hat they were always treated fairly
by Mr.. Devlin. It is the desire and
intent OF the trustees to accord fair
and honorable treatment to the miners
and all employees as we'll.
What Demands Mean.
1T has been said that the demands
of the miners contemplated an dvanc
of but 3 cents per ton. If the miners
of the southwestern district had con-
ceded that which was conceded to all
the other sections of the United States
in their demands. namely. the adop-
ton of the 1868 scale, it would have
meant practically that which has been
mentioned in the papers,. However,
that is not true or applicable to the
southwestern district. This territory Is
not accorded IN the demands of the
miners that which has been conceded
elsewhere
aThe establishment of a basing point
would greatly increase the cost per
ton in the southern Kansas field. It
would practically prohibit the market
ing of pal north of Frontenac for the
reason that the coal could not be
mined and produced for the anne cost
per ton as in the southern FrOntenac
field by at least ten or twelve cents per
ton The demand as made by the
miners c-ontemplates increased cost in
production of coal of perhaps not less
thar eight OF ten cents in any section
Of the mining district and would mean
a general increase. as I ompute it,
from eighteen to twenty-five cents per
ton or a net increase of approximately
thirty per cent per ton in cost of min
ing.
Discrimination Here.
ut is difficult to understand why
this particular section should be dis
eliminated against in this way. The
comprises the states of Missouri, Kan
sas. Arkansas, Indian territory and
Texas. of the coal produced, Kansas
alone produces about fOrtv-6ve or
The mines operated by the Devlin
estate produce a very large proportion
of that.
There h are not mines in the
west or elsewhere hat afford as reg
ular and constant employment as do
the mines operated by the trustees. IN
v~estigation of the wage paid during
the year of 1905, or from September
LIST, 1904, to January 1st, 1906, shows
that the mines under charge OF the
trustees were operated about 275 full
working days of the year and employ
ment could have beer furnished for
more working days had the miners
chosen to work.
AA4A( 9RONA d2CS.
THE average wage to each miner
for eight hours of each days work
amounted to $3.10, or an average
wage of about 80 cents per hour for
eight hours per day for the working
days of the year. tt is stated bv those
in charge of the mines locally that
many of the miners did not work six
hours, therefore the average wage per
hour is in excess of the amount above
stated. During h year Of 1905
{ A,--Ir- ~ million zz1Tan- ~ $780,
were paid the miners operating the
Devlin mines in southern kansas.
1.-THE trustees hav had the books
carefully examined as to the operation
of the Devlin-Miller mine, in the
j northern part of the FrOntenac field.
and this mine has shown a deficit for
the year and has shown a larger de-
felt in the past than in the year end
ing December 81. 1905. without
charging interest on the investment.
there has never been a time when the
trustees or Mr.. Devlin have beer able
to dispose of the coal from the Devlin-
Miller mine at the actual cost of pro-
duction. Tt can be readily understood
that this property could not be oper-
ated by the trustees or others if the
advance demanded by the miners was
Declined Arbitration
ut also should be understood by the
patrons and the public generally that
the miners declined to accept the de-
cision of a commission appointed b.
the president, and declined arbitration
as well. The miners and mine en-
ployes of the southern Kansas district
have been prosperous. perhaps as
much or more 50 than in any section OF
the United States. The miners in the
anthracite district have accepted arbi-
Z tration.
TT is regretted that there are dis
turbed relations between the oper'