The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-08-21
lRMINGToN, ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY MO. 2l,
To the Public:


St Francois County most OF the twenty-odd lead
mines of that district are rapidly filing with water
The water in some of the mines has already
risen above the pumps and filed the workings to
such an extent that even if pumping were resumed
to-day it would be weeks, and in cases months
before the mines could be brought to Il condition
permitting safe operation.
Every day that the pumps remain idle adds to
the list of mines that will require months after
pumping actually begins before they can be re-opened
for mining operations and thus restore the opportu-
nifty for employment the miners and mine workers.
1t is obvious that this situation is fraught with
economic disaster to this entire community, which is
more or less directly dependent for its prosperity
upon the continuous operation Of the lead mines.
In view of the extreme gravity of the situation,
the public is entitled to know where the actual re-
sponsbilty for this situation rests
The pumps were not shut down either at the
instance of the companies 10y their desire The
men called from the pumps along with the other
employees by the organization which preciptaed the
strike.
mes earnestly desired to continue operating their
pumps not only to protect their property against
loss, but to keep their mines in condition to permit
the resumption of mining operations soon as a
settlement of the matter in controversy could be
reached
At 4 conference held on the day before the strike
began, between a committee representing the en-
ployees of all the companies and 4 representative of
two of the principal companies the representative of
those companies urged upon the employees COM
mttce and even plead with them, to permit the men
to remain at the pumps in the interests alike of the
companies and of the employees dependent for en-
ployment upon the reopening of the mines.
This the position Of all the companies with
'out exception, but the employees decline to permit
the operation of a single pump for the unwaterng of
the mines, so far as they can prevent it.
Because of the size and compexity of their
pumping system three of the companies have been
unabe to operate any of the pumps to protect their
mines against flooding. Another company has been
able, through the combined efforts of its superntend-
ents, foremen and laboratory and Office force to op
crate its pumps. The remaining company by the
efforts of similar force supplemented by small
number of new employees, kept its pumps at work
the MIST DAYS OF the strike. During these days
threats OF personal violence to themselves and fami
les coerced some of the regular employees of the com
pany to abandon their work at the pumps, and the
limits of the physical endurance of Others brought
about a lesseping of the available force until that
company has had to abandon of it's mines to be
flooded.
The plain truth therefore, is that these COM
panes have earnestly desired to protect their mines
against being flooded not only in their own interests
but in the interests of their employees and the gen.
era community well, and every effort of the com.
panes to operate their mine pumps up to this MON.
en has been resisted by striking employees by every
possible means.
DesIOpe Consolidated Lead Go