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28 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
THAT A bargain is a bargain and that the man
who has been forced into a hard bargain will not
accept worse terms than he has bound himself to.
is iirobably being realized by the miners of Illi­
nois. It is difficult to understand how these men
can see their way clear toward pursuing the
fatuous course that is leading them to idleness.
It is so plain that all who care to know must
know that the production of coal in Illinois is
carried on on the narrowest possible margin. Any
increase in the cost of mining a ton of coal at this
time makes it necessary to leave the coal where
it is. The miner who does not know this does
not possess sufficient intelligence to warrant his
employment. The decision of the Operators'
Association on the shot-firers' law is the only de­
cision that could have been made without violat­
ing the fundamental principle that self-preserva­
tion is the first law of nature. It happens, un­
fortunately, that in the course of business, advan­
tage is sometimes taken of technicalities to force
somebody to lose money. Those who win in such
games are neither honored nor respected. The
spirit as well as the letter of agreements are lived
up to by honest men. Those who, like Shylock,
will be satisfied with nothing but the pound of
flesh, may find themselves, like the vindictive Jew,
without the pound of bread necessary to sustain
life.
* * *
EARNEST EFFORTS are being made by all the big
coal-carrying railroads to improve their facilities
sufficiently to meet the coming winter's business.
The orders placed for locomotives and cars thus
far are the largest ever given. They indicate
that the volume of trade will be an immense one
and that the transportation systems will be taxed
to their utmost. Past experience has shown that
despite all their efforts the railroads have never
been able to handle properly the business of the
rush season and there is no particular reason for
believing that they will exceed past performances
this year. The lesson is plain. Those who
dally and hold back will be subjected to the usual
inconveniences and regrets. Those who are wise
will take advantage of good prices and transpor­
tation facilities and keep on the safe side.
The Sunshine Coal Co. has been incorporated at
Centerville, la., with a capital stock of $j.u,000.
TEXT OF THE NEW AGREEMENT
AT THE MORRIS RUN MINES.
The following is the agreement under which the
strike at the Morris Run Coal Co.'s mints was
settled:
Agreement, made this 9th day of June, 1905, between
W. B. Wilson, secretary-treasurer of the
United Mine Workers of America, representing
particularly the scale committee of Local No. 1370
of said organization, of the first part, and Louis
P. Miller, operating the Morris Run mines, of the
second part, witnesseth:
That the former employes of the Morris Run
Coal Mining Co. sliall be taken into the service of
the second party upon the following terms and
conditions:
(1) The first party will pay to the second
party on the date hereof by New York draft to the
order of the second party all arrears of rent from
the first day of April, 1904, to the first day of
June, 1905, of said employes aggregating approximately
$12,000. the exact amount being $11,624.54,
which sum shall be collected of said employes in
the same manner and at the same time as the
union dues are collected out of the monthly payroll,
which sum shall be collected for the first
party and paid back by the second party to the
first party whenever and only in cases where the
former employe returns to work and becomes a
tenant of the second party, said tenant to pay such
amount as the party of the first part may require,
not to exceed one month's rent each month on the
old account of said arrears. In cases where the
former employe does not return and become again
a tenant, the second party is not responsible for
the repayment to the first party of that portion of
the arrears of rent. Men returnirg to work to
have san.e houses previous'y occupied, unless
otherwise arranged with the superintendent. The
said party of the second part to furnish the said
party of the first part with an itemized statement
of rents due.
(2) The same system of check-off to be reinstated
as in March, 1904, and the hall to be rented
to the local as before.
(3) Present non-union employes of the second
party not to be molested or interfered with in any
manner by the returning employes.
(4) Rates of mining and wages to be eightyone
cents for twenty-one hundred and fifty (2.150)
pounds of coal mined.
Drivers at $2.27 per day of eight hours at the
face, on the same trip system as before.
All other labor to be reduced 10 per cent, from
the rates paid in March, 1904.
Rents and house coal to be reduced 10 per cent.
after January 1, 1906.
(5) Any questions, differences or disputes not
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 39).