The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-06
nv FRUDERICK J. HAsKIN


LYNCH, KY, Oct. 6.-The lot of the
coal miner may be learned by seeing
him at work and seeing how he lives,
by seeing his home and his wife and
children Reading about what he earns
is not altogether enlightening.
In typical Kentucky coal mine the
miner earns his bread and everything
that goes wit hit. Yet he enjoys a.
sense of freedom. He may go where
he likes and be assured of good wages,
that goes with it. Yet he enjoys
and the labor turnover in Kentucky
mines large and small, large ones es-
pecially, shows that he does go when
he likes. And he likes often to CO.
Why so, inasmuch as he does not bet
ter himself by going? For the same
reason that a domestic servant, weary
of washing another's woman's dishes,
moves on to job no better in vain
attempt to get away from dull routine.
1t is necessary for a tall man to
bend almost double in the tunnels
which lead to the rooms in which MIN
ers work The tunnels are in darkness
and it is necessary to be careful not
to touch an electric wire overhead
which runs the mine trolley cars. Min
ers get used to the STOPPING position
and grow contemptuous OF the 1--we
wire. One strong man grew finally 10
believe that the wire would not hurt
him and in a spirit of bravado took
hold of it. The wire did not Stay him
but left him alive as if to teach him
a lesson. 1t visited upon him for life
the grim jest of an unseen Titan.
Almost fabulous stories are told OF
the possible, and occasionally actual,
earnings of miners when coal is hlgh,
but the average earnings of a mine.
may be learned, if anywhere, from the
ledgers of a mining corporation. The
company employees don't tell. The min
ers don't know, apparently.
A man who does hard manual labor
in an isolated room opening upon
tunnel which runs a half mile to day
light on a mountain side ought to be
well paid A man whose hair does
not stand on end when he removes
coal which has been left in the form
of pillars, till the vein has been robbed,
and sees the mountain settle IN front
of him and close the opening that has
been made, has the admiration of any
one.
Few desire to witness that feature OF
of mining. Occasionally an error OF
Judgment in that work, or an error
as to the stability of slab of slate
In the roof of a room, results in three
line report in the press that miner
was killed, and leaves widow and nu-
merous children weeping in cottage
in coal camp.
Hazards of Mining
Are Described.
There are other causes of occasional
fatalities, but the statistics of mining
do not show that the occupation is ex-
tremely hazardous. 1t is pointed out
that the miner is exposed to no ex-
tremes of temperature. His work IS
done in an atmosphere not unlike that
of Mammoth Cave, so well are modern
mines ventilated, and in an unchanging
cellar-like temperature.
After a short days work the miner
is free to enjoy life in Lynch or Jenk-
ms in such a climate as health seekers
go far to enjoy Lynch has nearly as
high an elevation as Rockbridge Alum
Springs in Virginia, or the hotels in
and about Asheville, N. c. All of the
conveniences and most of the luxuries
of life in first class city are provid-
ed. The miners residence is near
everything his wife wants in the way
of table or household supplies. Neces
sary expense OF living is not high.
The rapidity with which money is
spent by miners and their families in
dictates welfare above that of a MAORI
ty of skilled laborers including those
engaged in occupation such as bridge
carpentry and outside painting on city
buildings, which are as hazardous as
mining. The miner who has come out
of the mine covered with coal dust
caked on by Precipitation, goes to {
bath-house which compares favorably
with that of the Y. NJ. c. A. in Wash
ington or Ney York. Afterward he MAY
be seen playing billiards or attending
a picture show, attired like a business
man, or idling on the street in KHAKI
according to his bent. But his wife
and his children nearly always are wei
dressed. and nothing is to good or toe
costly for the family table.
TIE elaborate system of welfare
work in the model mining camp is in