Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-03-09

IudLe consumer, referring I'd tuc sih0A
buyer, never really feels the price
fluctuations in this trade. His in
dividual purchases of steel products
are not extensive.
The wages of the coke workers and
coal miners of this region are largely
regulated by the price of coke, al
though the H. c. Frick Coke company
does not sell ton of it. Its coke Is
consumed by the United States Steel
corporation, of which it is sub
'sidiary. The independent operators
of the region sell their coke in the
open market, but they follow the lead
OF the dominating interest when
wages are fixed. 1t has been the
policy Of the region to reduce wages
only when absolutely necessary. Do
spite the dull period of 1914, when
steel production was ct low ebb and
coke in small demand, the 1911 wage
scale, up to that time the highest that
had ever been paid, remained In force.
On Feb. l of this year wages were
advanced 10 per cent, to the highest
level they have yet attained.
Long Layoffs Unknown.
The average wage Of the men paid
by the day by the largest company in
the region, under the new scale, is
over So. This includes the pay of trap
per boys, day laborers, coal miners,
machine men, inside and outside en-
ployees, and fire bosses. 1t does not
include the mine foremen, stable
bosses, superintendent, clerks and
those who are paid by the month. On
the basis of $50 working days in the
year, the record of 1912, which was
only moderately busy period, the
average yearly earnings of coke re-
gion employees totals 1854. This com
pares with 1925 year for employees
of the anthracite region, under the
existing scale, and 206 working days
in 1912. General suspensions for
weeks at a time are unknown in the
coke region. as they are being elm
mated for the first time this year in
the anthracite district.
The basing of wages on the price Of
\ coke has had the result OF practically
eliminating labor disputes There has
not been a serious strike in the re
gion for years.
Labor employed in the mine as
mule drivers and track layers now.
commands s3.c5 a day, under the new
scale, while on the coke yards coke
drawers are earning So a day. Pick
miners can earn from $3.50 to 81 a
day without great effort, while ma
chine leaders make SIS and over. Men
who can run mining machine expert
ly earn as high as So and SIS a day, al
though the average will not be over SIS.
Every mine in the region has its
first aid team, while at several plants
rescue stations are maintained, where
trained helmetmen are ready for any
emergency. In addition to the strict
state inspection as to the safety of
working conditions, many of the COM
panies have their own inspectors, who
are even more exacting than the
states agents.
Especial interest is taken in the
welfare of the employee and his fam
4 ily When the miner energies from
/ the depths after his nine hours OF
4 toll, he will step into a locked room
! where shower baths enable him to
! wash the Crime from his body, and
4 don clean, dry clothes. AT his home,
/ in season, the chances are that his
/ table will be set with vegetables from
4 his own garden. 1t is estimated that
4 during last year garden truck to the
value Of 100000 was raised in the
yards of coke town employees. Prizes
are awarded each year by many of tho
companies, both for the most produc-
tive garden and the most attractive
lawn. while as an added inducement,
full market price is paid at the com
pany stores for any produce offered
for sale.
Fertilizer is furnished without
charge, and in nearly all of the plants
garbage is removed regularly several
times each week.
i Neasly every plant has its baseball
team. The H.>C. Frick Coke company
awards the Lynch Trophy Cup to the
winning nine each season. Other com
Ddn1cS also encourage tHCSV SPoi
Night schools are encouraged for
those who desire to improve theiI
minds, and scores of miners each year
are able to qualify for state certifl
Gates as fire bosses and mine foremen
Taken as a whole, the lot Of the
coal miner is much better than few
years ago, and there are few lines q
activity in which a man can do bette
for himself or his family. The wort
is not burdepsome for a man with I
normal amount OF Drawn, and it pays
better than many other lines OF ac
fivity. Unskilled labor finds II par
, ticularly attractive, because the re
/ muneration is generally much higher
, han contract work ana AFFORDS great
or comforts after hours.
II The coke region generally works
six day week; never more than that
{ The trouble mine operators have ex