The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-12-18

statement that the miner sustains
actual loss both of health and life,
and We may say that this condition
arises and has its beginning in the
cramped condition of the coal indus
try by the actions and the arbitrary
power OF the railroad corporations.
trusts, combines, etc. To keep
these mines in proper condition for
work next day, 1t costs the operator
from $50 to- 500 per day, accord
ing to the size of the plant and the
development of the mines.
We now give the items of cost
for idle days-general manager, SUI
perintendent, clerk, mine foreman,
boss drivers, foreman of machinery,
weigh master, electrician, engineers,
firemen, boss carpenter, fuel, stable
man and last but not least. feed for
fifteen to thirty head of mules. This
is daily cost, run or no run.
Added to this also is the great
loss Of profits. We may point out
another source of loss. Some OF the
operators or all of them at times
are compelled to buy coal ELSEWHERE
for the purpose of holding their
contracts, so that they can run the
mine, when the railroad company
says they may run by putting rail-
road cars on the mine switch.
In summing up, We may safely
state the loss to the coal industry in
Ohio county alone will amount to
the startling sum of $350,00O in
four months through shortage of
cars. From those figures We may
learn that while we miners and OPP
orators have our common differ
ences, there are times when 1t is
absolutely necessary to set aside
those differences for the time-being
and work in harmony for the safe
ty to health, life and property and
the welfare of the coal industry in
Kentucky. Furthermore, we de-
both the press and the public that
We are in this movement as citizens
of the great State of Kentucky. And
we as miners of Ohio county petit
toned the Governor as citizens of
Kentucky. We have appealed to
the people of Kentucky through the
press to agitate intelligently for
laws that will not only protect the
coal industry, but al other indus
tries and the general public from
being put at the mercy of the great
corporations, trusts and combines.
We wish it 10 be further understood
that we, the committee represent
ing the miners of Ohio county and
their families, are all staunch sup
porters and members of the United
Mine Workers of America. Howev-
err, in this movement we wish to be
known only as citizens of Kentucky.
Our petition to the Governor was
backed up by a petition to the Rail-
road Commissioners. signed by over
100 farmers and merchants in the
immediate vicinity of the mines,
who were directly and indirectly in
terested in the car shortage. This
movement originated in Ohio coun-
ty without assistance or advice
whatever from any officer or assum-
ed leaders in the organization OF
the mine workers, We wish this to
be known as the peoples movement.
Our case is in the hands of able
men, viz, the Hons. A. o. Stanley
and r. Y. Thomas.
We have also received the offer of
the assistance of our Common
wealth's Attorney, Ben d. Ringo.
We have also sent an invitation to
our Representative in Congress, the
Hon. Ben Johnson, who, We believe,
always works for the best interest
Of the people. eve, of Ohio county,
rest our case in the hands of these
able men and we request that all
others cooperate to the end we
seek.
If we can accomplish through the
assistance of our attorneys and pub
lie opinion the enactment of laws in
Kentucky. protecting the people
from the crushing influences of the
corporations, trusts and combines,
We will be truly thankful that we
were members OF the committee
that sent out the straightforward,
manly statement OF the conditions
existing in Ohio county. We thank
the public press for their expressed
kindly feeling toward the miners
and their families at this time and
we believe that by intelligent agita-
tion bringing about the full weight
of public opinion, something will
have to move.
r. C. VANCE,
l.. f. HERRELL,
j. T. MANN.