Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-30
SPRING CREEK
MINES CLOSE
Disagreement Between Samuel Gebo
and the District Deputy Of Un.
ion over Basis Of Wages.
TON WAGE OR PAYMENT By DAY
Under the Latter System, Mr.. Gebo
Has Been Losing Money Right
Along.

ed the Spring Creek coal mines. and
John Morton, of Stockett district dep.
uty of the coal miners association ar
rived here Friday evening. and an eft.
fort was made by Mr.. GebO to reach
an agreement with the union repre-
whereby the mines could be
operated on tonnage wage scale in.
stead of by days wages. 1t appears
that some time ago, the miners made
an agreement with Mr.. Gebos fore
man whereby day wage scale was
to be paid, instead of the customary
system of paying by the ton. This
plan has not worked satisfactorily at
all from the managements point of
view and Mr.. Gebo came up here in
the hope of changing it. Mr.. Morton
insisted however, that the old con-
tract should stand, and declined to
make the change desired by the other
side. The matter was under consid-
GRAFTON until yesterday. when it be-
came evident that nothing could be
done.
Closes Down the Mines.
Mr.. Gebo states that instead of max
ing a profit this month, he has Operat-
and he ascribes this wholly to the
fact that the system of paying is
wrong. and one that is not followed
any where else in the state. Being
ayerse to continuing the operations
at a loss, he decided to close the prop
erty down, and the order was given
last night. There will not be any coal
mined at the Spring Greek properties
until either the desired change is
made, or the mines are leased to 9th
er parties. Mr.. Gebo is quite willing
to follow the latter course if proper
arrangements can be made. He left
for Helena this morning.
Mr.. Gebo acquired this property from
John Borgh and his associates last
summer, and at once set about re-
opening the mines in a scientific fash
ion. In this work and upon the sur
face improvements, much money was
expended, and not long ago the rail-
way completed branch to the mines.
1t was the intention, when all was in
readiness to operate the property up
on much larger scale than ever be-
fore, but these plans have come to a
sudden halt.
we have some nice coal up there
and lots of it," said Mr.. Gebo to the
Argus last night. True, it isn't the
best coal in the world. but it is all
right. and we have market for it.
The long and short of the matter is
that | cannot afford to operate the
property on "A basis that means loss
on every ton of coal taken out. This
plan of paying the miners by the day
instead of by the ton is most unusual.
In fact, it isn't followed in any OF the
camps. It is true that my foreman,
who was not posted on the matter,
made an agreement to adopt that plan.
bu, We simply cannot go on mining
| al loss. If we take out any coal at
| all we do it at a loss, and the more
we take out the greater the loss.
| hope some arrangement may be made
| for leasing the mines. so that the shut
down will not be a long one, but we
cannot tell as to that yet
| Why Contract Was Made.
| II is claimed that the day wage
/ contract was made at time when the
| property was being opened up. and
dead work was being done. There
| would of course, be no money in it for
| miners doing this dead work to gel
| paid by the ton. and the management
! SO il is claimed. expected to go on th6
later basis after everything was ir
| readiness for taking out coal on /;
large scale.
Mr.. Gebo's books show that durins
the month of Sept teh coal mine wa!
5000 pounds per man per day; dur
ing the month of Oct. 21SO pounds
Nov. 2,7O0 pounds Dec. 2,1O0 pounds
Jan. l,4O0 pounds. So for January
il will be seen that it cost lot NOR
to mine the coal than it would sci
for on the market. Under the tol
system. Mr.. Gebo says the men ca,
make from 81 to Sc per day. and SOM
even more. Further. a good many o
the men wanted to adopt the change
but, of course, they could not do so ov
er the objection of the district deputy
! The latter. in support of his posi-
tion, simply says that there is a reg
ular contract between the men ans
the management as to the wage mat
ter, and he is really without authorit,
to abrogate it, under the circumstan
ces
AS to Leasing.
I Judge w III. Close of Carbon cOun
ty, has been here with view t.
leasing the mines, should they be clos
ed down. but under the ruling made
the property could only be taken b!
an outside party on lease subject tt
the wage contract. and under that i
would be simply impossible for an,
coal man to operate except at a loss
This contract would not apply should
leases be made directly to the men
and it is not improbable that such &
course will be followed in littlewhile
Meantime. the mines are closed ant
the men-miners. teamsters and out
side workingmen, are all out Of work
Taft ExpIodes False Statement.
Washington. Jan. 29.-The follow
ing cablegram has been received b!
the secretary Of war from General Ide