The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-12-04
CONDITIONS AT
MGHENRY NOW
Remain About the Same
AS for Months.
CAR SHORTAGE MAIN TROUBLE
Something of How the Miners
Live In Their Every
Day Life.
THE 1. C. APPEARS DLAMABLE


McHenry, Ky, Nov. 30.-Four-
teen hundred coal miners and their
families, living in and about Nc
Henry, are facing a desperate sit
uation, due, they claim, to failure
on the part of the Illinois Central
Railroad Company to furnish cars
sufficient to carry away the output
of the coal mines of Ohio county.
For the last eighteen months they
have worked on an average of but
two days a week, and were 1t not
for the fact that they are being ex-
tended credit by the company stores,
many would be on the brink OF
starvation. They are fast approach
ing that point, however, for the
reason that their limit, in the mat
ter of credit, has almost been reach
ed, and the day is not far distant
when the company stores, it is
feared, will turn deaf ear to the
men and women who seek supplies
without money.
Although conditions are border
ing on the critical, they are not as
desperate as one not knowing the
thrift OF the miners would imagine.
There have been but one or two
cases OF absolute restitution, and
these have been speedily relieved
by the more fortunate the moment
they were discovered, there being a
fellow feeling among the men who
work underground here that is
rarely found among other classes of
people, The constant danger at
taching to the work of the miner is
said to be responsible for this. and
the men of McIIenrv and adjoining
mining towns would divide their
last crust with a fellow workman.
Were all the miners entirely de-
pendent upon the mines for their
support the limit in Ohio county
would have been reached long ago,
but such is not the case. When
the mines are being worked full
time. the miners leave them at 4
o'clock in the afternoon, and some
times earlier, and return to their
homes. where they put in their time
during the summer working gar
dens and looking after stock, such
as mich cows and pigs. Nearly all
the miners, or their wives, raise
chickens, making their table in the
summer cost comparatively little.
In the fall they kill hogs, putting
away their own meat, explaining to
large degree the reason why the
crisis has not been reached here be-
fore now.
Figuring solely upon the absolute
necessities OF life, the cost per
month of maintaining the average
miners family. FIVE in number, is
$47.65, while during the past eigh-
teen months the average miner has
been unable to earn more than $50
a month, showing a balance of
$25.65 on the wrong side of the
ledger at the end OF each thirty
days. Robert Yoham, who has
worked in the coal mines in and
about McHenry for the past ten
years, itemized the cost of living as
follows:
Rent, per month, $500.
Doctors fee, per month, $1.00.
Dues to union, per month, $1.00.
Smithing, 75c.
Groceries. $500.
Incidentals, including clothing.
$500.
Coal. $3.50. i
Total, 1856.
This Is the very cheapest fam
lily of five can live" Yoham said,
"and the average miners family |
consists of FIVE persons. There are
some who have as many as ten in |
family. but in such instances there |
IL usually more than one bread
winner, some of the boys being able .
to help their daddies."
Not only are the miners and .
those dependent upon them for
trade affected by the alleged short !
age on the part of the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad Company. but the coal !
operators are losing money as we'll.
They have plenty of ORDERS" q
man WIN haa lived I In MeHanrv Tor