The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-05
COAL MINING AND
WORKERS IN MINES
Continued From First pace.A

Stonega brought about fifty men from
the Connellsville coke region OF Penn
sylvania. About fifteen of the nifty
were accompanied by families, the re-
mainder either being single or having
families In Europe. This contingent of
employees was composed entirely OF
Magyars and lovaks In about equal
numbers. Tho maximum number be-
longing TO these races was employed
during the period OF unusual activity
four years ago when about 800 Magyars
and $50 Slovaks were working In the
Big Stone Gap field.
4 Growing Inherent.
The slovaks and Magyars gradu-
ally increased in numbers. while the
arrival of scattered Representatives of
other races OF southern and eastern
Europe soon became noticeable. Al
though about eight races We're repre-
scented among the newcomers. the most
important were the Italians. Inc
Italians employed in the Big stone
Gap field are for the mos, part from
southern italy.
The first Italians came to Norton in
1901. They were not employed in any
considerable numbers, however, until
about 1902. Since that time they have
been arriving steadily and IN large
numbers. the greatest numbers coming
during the years 1905 to 1907. There
has been direct Immigration from italy
TO the locality and some have been di-
verted from railroad construction camps
in different sections of the South. AS in
the case of the other races. the great
est numbers were employed IN 1907,
when it is that fully $50
were at work In and about the mines.
The Italians employed in the Big
Stone Gap fields are migratory, and a
very small proportion OF the adults
nave families with them.
y few Poles have been in the mines
since 1898. but they have never been
numerically important. They have al
ways been more or less mig ratory,
and not more than seventy-hve to 100
have been employed at any one time.
The majority are men who were Sc
cured during the month of August.
1905. They were employed because of
81 sudden increase OF production at a
time when great numbers Of otner
laborers had left the field because of
s~lackness Of work. Very few OF them
are accompanied by families.
Sou bern and Eastern Europeans.
The United states Immigration Com
mission a. u part of it's exhaustive In
vestigations made u detailed study of
the Big stone Gap area. In its report
1t estimates that there are about 1000
Southern and Eastern European mine
workers at the present time in the field.
The Magyars, or Hungarians. with
about $50 miners. are numerically pre-
dominant. The Italians rank second.
with about 500 men. and tho lovaks
third, with 200. The remainder is
composed of comparatively small num-
bers OF the Polish. Rounanian. Servian,
KuthenIan. German, Macedonian and
Lithuanian races.
The ~Pocahontas field. which includes
the West Virginia OF Nc
Dowell. Mercer. M:ngo and Logan and
the county OF Tazewell. in Virginia. as
already stated. was not developed until
the construction OF the NorIolk and
Western Railway in 1852. The first
mines were operated al ~Pocahontue. in
Virginia, and just over the line on the
West Virginia SIDE in the same vicin-
tty. The field opened suddenly, and
owing to a tine quality OF coal pro-
duced, ready market were found and
development vas rapid from the be-
ginning. After starting AT Pocahontas
the development continued toward the
west. and was maintained somewhat
o'Sou VI III III dS IL uSliOI.
Natives Given Preference.
On first opening the mines such OF
the natives Of the district as could
be induced to work at mining were
employed. but the supply OF labor
was inadequate almost from the be-
ginning. while the lanorers were ir-
regular in their attention to work. and
generally inefficient as mine employees.
On the opening OF he mines negroes
from the agricultural sections of Vir-
GINA and North Carolina also began
TO enter the field, and within "A very
short time the operators were sending
out agents and inducing men to come.
The negroes proved to be good en-
ployes. but, ike tne native Mnite pco-
pie, were inclined to be Irregular
workers. 1t was also hard TO get
enough men of these two races TO keep
up with the expansion OF the industry.
and in 1854 or 1885 u few Magyars
were induced 10 come to the section
from Pennsylvania, with the idea OF
starting Immigration TO the coal mines.
The Magyars were followed in a short
time by members of other southern
and eastern European races.
History of immigration to the Field.
The Magyar is the most important
immigrant race In the field from a
numerical standpoint, and has con-
tributed more toward its development
than has any other. Those first en-
ployed were from the coai-mining re-
Sion of Pennsylvania. and formed a
nucleus for the future immigration
of the race 10 the field. From time to
time, as the industry grew, the num-
Der of Magyars employed increased.
Many have come direct from their ma
tive country, others have come from
other sections of the United States In
response to advertisements. through
the efforts of employment agencies
and because of the influence of friends
and relatives already in the Poca-
hontas field. a great many of the
Magyars leave the field. but the influx
is sufficient to maintain "a constant in
crease. Pocahontas has always been
the centre for the Magyar race, and a
large proportion of the total number
Of men emnloyed In that cnmmnnitu