The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-03
miners are paid for it just as it comes
out of the mine with the coal.
ARRANGEMENTS AND IMPROVE
MENTS

! In talking with Mr. Flies about improve
ments and advancements~ in the process
| of mining coal in a drift mine whose
chief advantage over slope mine is in
ventilation and drainage, both very inn
portant features, he said:
| I'm old times we used mules for haul
| age; shot the coal from the solid matter
| no modern engineering methods were
used for laying out the mine; gouged out
anywhere to get coal, then loaded run
of-mine without any preparation of the
coal whatsoever. What you've seen to-
day of the modern process shows the
| advancement which has been made. The
| cost per yard of thin seam coal is prac-
tically double what it is in thick seams,
! for We have to drive twice as far to open
Iup a given amount of coal and that
makes the yardage four times as much
per ton.
| Asked what he regarded as the most
| vital need of Alabama in regard tc
] coal mining Mr. Flies said:
| 1.-The development of the Warrior
| river as means of developing Alabama
as mineral state. This will reduce
the cost OF shipping; it will increase
the production of coal because it will
| broaden the market; we now have the
high cost of shipping to contend with
! due to rail rates through and against
Alabama fields"
Another thing" Mr.. Fies said.
| when the government developes the
/ War; river, it is not going to oper-
ate the river for profit but all the
money made one year will be turned
toward freight reductions the next
year"
| when the forty government engin-
| GERS now surveying for Lock 49, COM
plete their work and if the work is
carried on. it will mean navfgable
water to the highest grade coal in Ala
bama."
81 have one hobby in regard to my
work." Mr.. Flies said. land that is the
personal touch between employer and
employee. Prejudiced people by some
personal relation can often Gnfact al
ways) overcome prejudice if they are
people of merit. Contentment and sat
isfaction and a close personal relation
among all of us who work together is
the real secret of success in business.
In speaking with Superintendent w.
r. Payne he said:
II started at Sipsey as Night Boss
five years ago-almost at the opening
of the mines and I've been satisfied
ever since 1 came here. We try to
keep our men satisfied; that's the main
object we think more of them than
we do of the mine. We've got the best
living conditions here of any mine l
ever worked in. If man wants
dollar he can always get 1T; never any
discount We've got one of the best
department stores in the south and one
of the best store keepers
II had my first experience with the
electric underwriting machine here
said Mr.. Payne. I'VE never had any
pick work here; we can't give it away
any more. We employ every modern
device in mining: the installation alone
of this plant was colossal in it's cost;
the cost of washing coal is another big
expense. labor and supplies. power and
the loss in washing amounting to a
large sum-"
Referring back to wages earned by
miners, in looking over the PAY Rolf
1 noted among others the following as
typical of a months earnings:
Name: Charlie Kissell. Total earn
ings. $S65.S5; cash orders So; board, soc
COAL $3.50; rent. $780, school, soc;
hospital. soc; doctor, 1925: semi month
ly pay. cash $50; store. SAG; l.. bond,
$40; labor. $21.50 total stoppages
$152.75; balance due s21o.10.
? Name: Alt Maund, (colored). total
earnings. $230.35; stor echecks SEC;
board. soc; rent. IS; school, soc; hospi-
tai. soc; doctor, 1925; insurance. $3.50;
semi-monthly pay, cash. $40; labor
So; total stoppages s1S9.25; balance due
$91.10
Name: George Robert total earnings,
s610.60. Store checks. ST.; cash orders.
81: board. $3.50; school. soc; hospital.
Soc; doctor, SLIPS; l. bond, IS; transfer,