The diamond drill., 1918-04-20
WAGES INCREASED
AT MINES APR. IS
NOTICES TO THAT EFFECT WERE
POSTED DURING TINE WEEK
MINERS WAGE NEAR $500
This is the Highest WageEver Paid
in the Lake Superior District
Since Mining Started

A notice was posted at the McI<in-
ney Steel Co. mines during the week
announcing that on April 18th an in
crease OF from 10 per cent TO 10 per
cent would be made in wages. The
raise is understood to effect all work
men at the mines with the exception
of monthly men. The exact status of
these men as regards the new increase
has not been decided when the inform
alton was given out.
This increase comes as a result OF
the general increase announced by
the steel corporation for its employees.
That announcement was made about
three weeks ago and there was some
question as to its being made general
at that time. but subsequent develop
ments show that it is intended TO in
crease the miners as well as the mill
men.
Conference of County Supts.
A conference OF mining superinten-
dents OF Iron county was held in
Crystal Falls yesterday to complete
the schedule and to talk over the ap-
plication OF the new schedule at the
different mines.
Superintendent Richards, of the Nc
Kinney Steel Co. in talking the mat
ter over with a Diamond Drill re
porter, said that 1t was his under
standing that all of the mining COM
panies would make the increase, but
he was authorized 70 speak only for
the Mckinney Steel Co. mines whose
employees will get the increase regard
less OF any other consideration.
The increase of April 18th makes
the third substantial increase made
! In miners wages in the last eighteen
months. When the boost skyward
was started miners were getting In
the neighborhood OF $500 per day.
Before the last advance miners were
| getting on an average OF S4.20 per
day; trammers were getting $3S5 per
| day, and surface laborers were get
| ting $3,15. II the schedule shows an
! increase Of 10 per cent miners will
| get $4.62 and other employees will get
proportionate advances. Should the
schedule show an increase of Is per
cent the wage of the miner will be
! Increased to $4.S3.
This schedule doesn't hold true 0i
! ali mines In some mines an increase
over the base of $4.20 Is allowed be
cause OF local conditions such as wei
slopes, bad air and other conditions
that make labor in such a mine more
/ difficult.
No Increase In Ore Prices.
IL will be remembered that this I'm.
ernment has refused 90 grant any In.
crease in the price OF ore The iron
ore miner has never got his due IN
the matter Of price since the ore ent
was combined with the pig iron ant
finishing end. The profits are taker
at the other end OF the line and the
price OF ore held at level where the
mine isn't given a fair return for tho
product produced.
The increase in the labor cost,
will materially increase the cost o
the ore TO the producer this yeal
without any commensurate return L
him, a manifest unfair condition.
The base price OF Crystal Falls or,
at the present time is $5.10 Z. o. b. tn,
lower lake ports. This price Is Gu
in some instances, especially In tn,
case OF Independent producers VIII,
have to peddle their ore on the oper
market.
Much of the Iron county ore is al
independent ore and for that reason
II Is not commanding the price tha
IL ought to command for the reason
that independents have TO shade thell
price to induce the producing con
suming interests go into the oper
market.