Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-16
600, 900 MINERS SAID TO
AVERAGE 2I4 DAYS ANNUALLY
The Russell Sage Foundation Makes Lengthy Repor, on
The Coal Miners Insecurity '-Bames Override
velopment of Mines for the Low Average

employment. 1918, the average annual
earnings Of their members in the
central Competitive Field varied
from sl.36i in Ohio TO maximum
OF Sl.5S3 In Western Pennsylvania
Rad they been able to work 304 days
year. their earnings. with those
rates. might have reached a maxi
mum of Sl.S50. Data derived from
the United States census indicate
mat In f9l9 the average annual earn
lnEs OF miners I'm the same area
varied from sl.o62 in Indiana to n
maximum OF sl.3lS in PENNSYLVANIA
The general average increase Of 81
per cent. granted by the Bituminous
Coal Commission in 1920. would have
increased these earnings had employ
Inent been no more Irregular than
In the past. Even In the compare
lively prosperous year OF 1920. how
ever. the days OF operation of the
mines we're . per cent less than in
1913. w Ge in 1921 the opportunity
for enV. oSment decreased % per cent
as compared with 1920. and 81 per
cent as compared with 1918. Thus
irregular employment has nuIlificd
the advantage of increased rates OF
pay.
Cost of Living.
Estimates of the cost OF living
prepared by Professor w. T.. OEburn.
OF Columbia University, to be pre-
scented by the United Mine Workers
to the Bituininous Coal Commission.
showed that in January. 1920. Sl.603
was required for budget to provide
n minimum of subsistence for Il
family of I'VE. To provide mini
mum Of comfort for families living
In mining communities required. ac-
cordinS to Professor Ogburn's csti-
mate. an annual income OF s2.2ii.
Prices have decreased some what since
these estimates, but even in the pros
porous year OF 1918 the miners aver
age annual earnings were not equal
to the estimated minimum of sub
sistence.' except for Il comparative
~ small group of machine miners
employed every day that the mines
were open.
Facts about miners earnings and
the suffering which unemployment
causes In their families can he un-
dcrstood only If conditions of life in
mining camp are known. In many
mining communities the mines is the
only place OF employment To find
another job in duh periods means
moving to another town. Moreover.
Il miners family lacks the economic
safeguards OF life in community
with several varied industries in
which other members OF the family.
wives ana uauSntcrS. ma
work. For many coal miners this
resource is lacking. The coal indus
try necessarily becomes responsible
for insurinS sufficient income To the
men IN the mines to maintain their
families throughout the year
Overdevelopment Of the industry
and lack OF opportunity for the min
crs to earn wages regularly In the
bttuminous coal industry render pre-
than half n million miners and their
wives and children. The adjustment
or wage rates every two years Is sure
TO produce conflict and bitterness
until the equally important question
or STABILITY for the industry receives
effective attention for operators and
public. Greater security In employ
Iheht must be made the foundation
for better human relations in this
industry.
The miners In the soH-COal in
duStry might well ask for a guar
antccd minimum of employment Hs
the basic need. taking prcCcdenc
over wage adjustments this year.
The necessity for regarding a rca-
sohable minimum of employment as
fixed charge upon the Industry
would probably make operators more
reluctant 10 open new mines or to
enlarge unduly those already oncn.
10 make employment regular is i'm
portant. not only FOR the standard
OF living OF the miners families. hut
Tor the economic conduct Of the in
duStrN. Capital, as well ms men in
wastcfuily used when money and en-
crgy are invested on n scale To pro-
duce more coal than is required. The
public. the operator and investor and
inc coal miner have a common in
terest in n1king bituminous mining
chicicnt ana economical