The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-12-09
WAGES INCREASED
TEN PER CENT
MINE WORKERS IN CRYSTAL FALLS
GET SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE
ORE STILL GOING FORWARD
Carpenter and Balkan Mines Ship
ned Most of the Week From
Their Stocked Ore

The Diamond Drill has been in
formed that notice has been sent out
20 the mines OF the district that the
wages OF miners will be increased 10
per cent the increase TO begin on the
18th of December.
The Corrigan- Mckinney people
wete the first to send out the an
nouncement but the Carpenter Jud-
son and Bristol soon came out with
an announcement of an increase.
While the Bristol didn't make posi-
tive statement as TO amount, supt.
Biork said that we might say posi-
lively that his properties will give
the same amount OF increase that the
others do. IL was necessary for him
TO take that feature Of the raise up
with his people.
Gen. Manager M r. Richards in
formed Us that notice OF increase OF
practically ten per cent had been
posted by his people at their Judson
and Amasa-P Porter mines.
Inquiry at the Balkan office brought
out the information that word had
been received very promptly to post
notice Of increase of same amount as
other operators to take place on the
18th.
Rest Wages IN History.
The increase OF 10 per cent made
this week gives the miners OF this
district the biggest wage that they
have received in the history Of the
district. on the basis Of present
wages, miners will receive from $3.50
10 $500 per day depending upon the
g9srsfsshrr WI sSoeiyaer.
wlees AS they are not covered by the
general schedule.
Surface laborers will get from $2.45
TO 1886 per day, which Is fully hfty-
cents per day more than has ever
been paid before Between the com
mon laborer about surface and the
miner there are the engineers, iiremen
etc. that have separate schedules, all
OF them above $3.50.
Wet mines pay more than dry mines
for the reason that a workman In q
wet mine must buy oil clothing and
YOU can bet that oil clothing costs
something these days.
Nci Earnings No More.
While the wages paid are the high
est that have ever been paid out here,
the net earnings Of the men, especial
~ the married men. are no more II as
much as when the wages were a third
lower The reason for this condition
Is that supplies are SO much higher
than they ever have been that II takes
all OF the increase and I'm some cases
more. for the miner 10 support his
family upon
A businessman was telling re-
porter during the week that present
business ~ fine. II couldn't be bet
ter However" said our business
man, we nnd Il almost impossible
20 get in money on accounts that were
run during the duh times of 1914,
The people paw M promptly on their
recent purchases but on their past
accounts they End they are unable e.
pay much II anything for the reason
that they are not saving any more
aow than WHOM they were getting
less and tholr living was c1mpara-
lively less.
Steel Trust Raised.
Willie no specific announcement
has been made that the men at the
mines Of the Steel Corporation are
included with the mill men. Il Is gen
orally understood that when MIR. Gary
announced the increase he included
all OF the employees Of the concern.
The recent advance in the price OF
iron ore was the main incentive In
bringing about the raise In the wages.
The ore raise followed raise IN the
hnishcd product 70 a plane never
heard of before.