The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-03-25
Mining in Idaho, 1919---Reduced Min
eral Output and Why The Occur
D'Alene Labor Troubles

1919 for, as matter of fact, the pres
ent railway transportation end of the
business continues TO be one of its
most serious drawbacks. The ulti-
mate product of lead mines must be
disposed of at immense distances from
its source in this state This has
been and still is a serious bar TO prog
ress through the slow and Indifferent
services rendered by the federal rail
way administration and its employees
This condition, together with the
shocking uncertainty of the excess
profit tax law, leaves the mine owner
decidedly at sea as to whether he is
working for himself or for the federal
tax collector. which combines to make
his present business pathway more
rocky than rosy. in spite of present
prevailing high metal prices
Labor Indifference and high living
costs have contributed and are still
contributing as a bar to the warrant
ed progress of the industry. especial
ly in new development enterprises.
even under the abnormal prices pre-
vailing at this time for Idaho's prin-
cipal mine products. The only open
remedy for this condition is for all
industrial employees to put their
shoulders to the wheel and give an
honest and conscientious days work
for the present high pay offered in all (
industries and by an increased yield /
of products or effective service thus
insured probably maintain the pres
ent high wages indefinitely and at the .
same time lower the cost of living
from its present high standing.
The underground development of the
Occur d'Alene mines are so extensive
as to make it difficult to distribute a
big crew Of men going to and coming
from work much under an hour in
several of the properties. The COM
panies have tried to facilitate this dis
tribution by every possible means
available with free rides on comfort
able electric trains through all the
long tunnel approaches. The non
productive overhead expense of oper-
ating a big mine is excessive and.
while extra time is required going to /
and returning from work. the wages I
paid, especially with single men. are 5
well worth the effort, considering the 5
amount of skill required in the bulk c
IF the labor involved c
Miners Prefer To Muck.
Due to an old union idea of a mini
mum wage for miners and muckers
alike enforced years ago, except at the
Bunker Hill e Sullivan mine. the
present available labor supply pre-
'ents an excess of muckers, and min
ers are scarce and hard to get Good
miners much prefer, in their own per-
'onal interest to work as muckers-
md 1 don't blame them-for any
strong backed Mutt can push a muck +
stick on a smooth shovelling floor af-
er few hours apprenticeship, but it
axes an experienced. skilled laborer
o handle a machine drill intelligently.
o place his holes and bite the ground .
o best advantage, to load and blast
hem and to protect himself from the
hangers of barring own loose back
fter blasting, while the muck stick
nan stands safely behind under pro-
Getting timbers or at least under we'll
'arred backs. The miner isn't much
o blame under the same wage scale
n looking for a job as a mucker His
kill and experience as a matter of
ommon sense is worth more money
nd he should rank through that ex- :
{ rience, above the class of a com n
ION mine la'borer. Recognition of such
kill by a substantial difference in pay
5 compared to that given a mucker
think, would develop a big supply OF
Ugh class, capable hard rock miners
I a little while and so much faster D
Ian the industrial training school B
lethods as to make that school a real S
bject for muckers to study in. d
Everybody connected with a mine p.
peration is laborer and is paid usu- al
lly, except the distinction referred to G
bove and piece work men, in proper Ii
on to the skill and knowledge dis v,
ayed in the department he fills in &c
lie operation and many of the higher SC
aid men have worries and troubles
null and moon over, after a regu-
r shift is through, that the ordinary pc
liner and mine laborer never even
-eams of. DC
with the exception of a few l. W.
2. agitators, which an effort is being 10
AIDE to eliminate through the re-
of a central employ 10
ent office at Wallace the general
IN of mine employees, both miners 10
Id muckers of the Occur d'Alene dis
let are competent able workmen in 10
cir special capacity and, as exhibit
in two serious fire and accident 10
ses that have happened during the
ar they developed ready and will 10
g supply of competent volunteers,
no faced personal physical dangers 10
at were just as hazardous as any
rage battle front risk involved in 10
e big European war and are worthy
equal recognition in medal decora- ca
N for distinguished service to hui Of
anity. These accidepts will be re- 10
rrad IN 1afar On