Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-06
A LAND OF CONTRASTS
III--Lot of the Coal Miner
BY Frederic J. Haskin

-
Lynch. KY. oct. s,-JThe let OF the
coal miner may be learned by seeing
him at work and seeing how he lives.
by seeing his home and MS wife ana
children. Reading about what ne
earne i. not altogether enlishtening.
In a typical Kentucky coal mine the
miner earne his bread, and everything
that goes with Il. Yet he enjoys a
sense of freedom. He may go where
ne likes and be assured OF good wages
and the labor turnover in Kentucky
mines large and small. large ones e6-
peciaiIy, elbows that he does go "hen
he likes. And ne likes often 10 go.
Why, 80. inasmuch ss he does not
better himself by goingY For the
same reason that q domestic servant
weary Of waehing another womsns
dleher, moves on 10 a Job no better
in vain attempt 10 get away from
dull routine.
II is necessary for q tall man TO
bend almost double In the tunnels
which lead 10 the rooms in which
miners work. The tunnels sre in
darkness and II ls necessary TO be
careful not 20 touch an electric wire
overhead which runs the mine trolley
care. Miners get used 20 the stopping
| position and grow contemptuous 81
| the I've wire. One strong man grew
/ finally 10 believe the wire would not
| hurt him and in n spirit Of hravado
| took hold Of Il. The wire did not siay
| him, but left him alive as II 10 teach
! him = lesson. II visited upon him for
| life the grim Jest Of an unee Titan
| Almost fabulous stories are told Of
the possible. and occasionally actual
earnings Of miners when coal is high
but the average earnings of a minel
may bS learned. Il anywhere. from th'
ledgers Of a mining corporation. Th'
company employees don't tell Tn
miners don't know. apparently
! a man who does hard manual labo
I in m Isolated room opening upon
tunnel which runs a hall mile 10 day
light on a mount1inside ought 10 b
we'll paid. A man whose hair does no
stand on end when ne removes Goa
which has been left IN the form G
, pillars, TIL the vein has been robbed
and sees the mountain settie in from
Of him and close the opening that ha
been made. has the admiration II any
> one.
Few desire 70 witness that fsatur
~ mining. Occasionally an error {
judgment in that work, or an srro
as to the sta bility ~ a slab OF slai
in the roof Of room, results 'in
three line report in the press that
miner was killed, and leaves a wido'
and numerous children weeping IN
cottage in coal camp.
Hazards Of Mining.
There are other causes 81 occasion
al fatalities. but the statistics OF mir
, ing do not show that the occupatio
In extremely hazardous. II - poin'
: ed ont that the miner is exposed TO r
extremes of temperature. His wor
Is done in an atmosphere not unlik
that Of Mammoth Cave, 80 we'll ar
modern mines ventilated, and in a
/. unchaneinx ceilar-llke Temperature
After short dsye WORN the nlint
: IL free 10 enjoy life in Lynch or JET
kins in such a climate az health seel
ere 20 far 70 enjoy. Lynch has neal
" ly as high an elevation as Rocktrldf
h. Alum Springs IN Virginia. or the h
! tells in and about Asheville, ". G. A
= OF the conveniences and most Of y
l Injuries Of life IN a first class CT
q are provided. The miners residen
: is near everything his wife wants Z.
rnn . s.f-f IL tae,fI ~-.l
I, plies. Necessary expense Of living
d not high.
d The rap!dity with which money
a spent by miners and their families Il
dicatee welfare above hat Of a m
= jority Of skilled 'aborWs includir
:. these engaged in occupations such
e bridge carpentry and outside paints
y on city buildings, which are as ma
ardous as mining. The miner w
has come out Of tn" mine covered wi
4 coal dust, caked on by perspiratiC
goes TO a bathhouse which Compa-
/ favcrably with that Of the Y. VI. c.
| in Washington or New York Afts
| ward he may be seen playing billiar
| or attending a picture show. attir
| like a business man. or idling on {
! street in khaki according 10 his be
! But his wife and his children neal
! always are we'll dressed, and noths
! IS too good or toe costly for the fan
II " table.
III The elaborate system OF wel1a
| work in the model mining camps
| indeed inspiring. but the ,abor tul
II over indicates that it inspires
II student OF industrial RELATIONSHIP
more than il does the miner. He tab
II IL all as Il matter. of course. He see
about as happy in the less well ecu
II ped camps. He drifts from one
II another often with seeming aimle
III ness.
II Some Observers claim that IN
II Kentucky coal fields men are m,
n restless where they are best hous
II best fed. and best amused. The r,
II son ascribed is that the miners in
n great coal camps feel no sort Of al
II glance 10 the soil. no matter how 10
II the.r residence at a given camp, WI
II miners in many Of the smaller ope
II tons have love Of home. which Ike,
II them there.
II Some Miners May Own Homes
II Visitrs are impressed especially "
|. the living conditions and the appar
II loyalty of the miners az Stearns