Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-03-09
MINERS LOT Is
MUCH IMPROVED
Men Make Good Wages and Have Excellent Surroundings
Long Rows Of Smoke Grmed Houses Things Of the Past
SAFETY Is FIRST RULE OF MODERN MINING CONDITIONS
ksSewn DOoyads Are Replaced by Pretty Lawns and Garden
Plots Fairgrounds Swimming Pools and Recreation Halls
Make Communities COngenal Social Centers
FIRST RULE OF MODERN MINING CONDITIONS

The fact that both the bituminous
and anthracite miners are now nego-
tiating with their employers over
new wage scale brings to mind the
fact that the lot of the coal miner is
greatly improved over that of even a
few years ago.
Coal mining today is attended by
fewer hazards and with greater COM
fort after hours than was the case
before safety first and welfare work
became a watcbword. Today the
miner is not only better paid than
ever before, but he is Also aDle to
live better. The pay Of a coal digger
often Is greater than that of men in
many other occupations that might
appear to be more desirable.
In the Connellsville coke region OF
Pennsylvania the miner is found ct
his best. Safety first has been the
watchword Of that region for the past
twenty years or more; as q matter o.
fact the movement originated in that
region, following disastrous mine
explosion, when the late Thomas
Lynch. then general superintendent
Of the big H. c. Frick Coke company,
issued q set of rules, the keynote OF
which was Safety is the first con-
sideration." There has been a marked
decline in the number Of accidents
since that time, and it is pertinent to
note that there hasn't been serious
mine disaster at any of the Frick
plants since.
Not Grinny Towns.
A coke town or mining village
brings to the mind of the average man
a picture of squalid, desoiate,
dreary community; the air smoke
filed, and the houses grimy and dirty
few years ago this picture would
have been correct. Today the houses
are found to be freshly painted, sur
rounded BY attractive lawns, and on
the vacant space in the rear will be
found productive gardens. The NTH
filed streets have been eliminated
and now concrete drains carry Off the
storm water and the surface drainage
Running water is found in many OF
the houses, and along all OF the
streets, while at many of the plants
all of the houses are lighted with
electricity. Some of them are equipped
with modern plumbing and boast OF
bathrooms.
Practically every plant has its play
ground, and many of them are also
proud Of recreation centers. such as
swimming pools, gymnasiums ana
auditoriums. The coke region has
found that contented employees are
an asset, and the various companies
have not been niggardly in the ex-
penditures for welfare work of every
character.
Street Cars Are Near.
Unlike many mining districts, the
Connellsville coke region is located IN
a populous section of western Penn
sylvania. Virtually every plant is
along street car line, and such
thriving towns as Connellsville
Uniontown, Scottdale, Mount Pleas
ant. Brownsville, Masontown, Greens
burg and Latrobe are in such close
proximity that they can be reached
in very short time. This is par
ticular advantage for the miner who
desires to make the most of his op
portunity III buying food, clothing OIL
other articles, or who has growing
family and wishes to take advantage
of the excellent educational advan
tages offered by those communities
| There are graded schools near all O
| the plants, and some splendid town
ship high schools close to many o
them. The street car line, however
puts the miner and his family in close
touch with the towns.
In common with majority of thu
| mining companies, those of the cox
| region maintain company stores
| These have attained a particular.
high standard. That the quality 0
their goods, and the standard 0
prices are fair is attested to by NJ
less an authority than Ida NJ. Tarbell
the noted magazine writer, who in
1 recent magazine article, discussing
/ the Golden Rule in Business. oe
clared that regardless of what Nigh
be said of company stores ELSEWHERE
| those of the Connellsville coke regio
maintained high standard Of qualit
and charged price as low, and i
many instances. lower than that aske
by outside merchants.
i Wages Above Average.
With safe working conditions. d.
sirable surroundings and a standar
OF living made as reasonable as ca
be obtained anywhere, the remaining
and Most important problem for til
coal miner is that Of wages
The coal miner Of today is vel
paid workman. Wages in the Co,
nellsyilie region are dominated by tn
n. c. F'ricl Coke company. an
strange as II may seem, the uliimat