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ANTHRACITE MINERS DIVIDED
ON THE EIGHT-HOUR QUESTION.
There has been much discussion concerning the
necessity of miners remaining with their laborers
during the whole time that the latter are at work
in the mines. This discussion was precipitated
by the action of the officials of the Lehigh Valley
Coal Co. at their Exeter colliery some time ago in
attempting to enforce an order to this effect. It
was contended by the company that the miners in
coming out of the mine as soon as they have
blasted sufficient coal to keep their laborer busy
during the day, expose the laborers to danger, and
the workings to great damage. This is explained
by the fact that the laborers are generally foreigners,
ignorant of the precaution that should be
taken, and that as a result of their ignorance accidents
ensue.
Since the report has been started that an eighthour
day is to be requested by the miners at the
close of the present agreement between the operators
and the miners of the anthracite coal regions,
a report has also been circulated to the effect that
some of the independent operators would be willing
to grant an eight-hour day for next year,
with the provision that all the miners stay in their
chambers until their laborers have completed the
work for the day.
These reports combined have caused controversy
concerning the merits of the propositions.
The miners are divided over the probability of an
acceptance of the eight-hour day with the conditions
mentioned. By some it is contended that
inasmuch as the miner is paid by the car and cannot
secure sufficient cars in which to load all the
coal which it is possible for him to blast in eight
hours, it is simply useless to ask him to remain
in the chamber during the whole of the time.
From the miners' standpoint, then, it is immaterial
whether an eight-hour day is granted, for
he does not stay the full time anyway.
By some the statement is made that there is
no desire for an eight-hour day, the principal
desire being for recognition of the union. Among
others the opinion prevails that the miners are
bound to make an eftort to secure an eight-hour
day in accordance with action taken at the last
national convention looking toward the uniform
establishment of an eight hour day. Others take
a still different view of the case, and say that the
talk about the refusal of the men to remain in
the chambers is nonsense, and that if the com
panies so desire they can, by a simple request
from a foreman, secure the presence of a miner
during the whole of any working day when any
good reason can be given for making such request.
They claim that a miner is but an employe and
that if the foreman thinks that the chamber is in
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 45
a bad condition and requires the constant presence
of an experienced man during the time when any
one is working in the place, the foreman can
order the miner to stay in the place and upon the
refusal of the miner he may be discharged and
have no redress.
|| CONSTRUCTION and DEVELOPMENT. K
A number of improvements are to be made at
the Baggaley plant of the H. C. Frick Coke Co.
They include a boiler house built of brick designed
to accommodate at least seven boilers, each having
a capacity of about 150-horse power. A new
hoisting engine is also to be installed in a new
engine room, the engine having a capacity of
1,500-horse power. A new system of haulage will
also be installed.
The Norfolk & Western railroad has bought 25
acres of land at Lambert's Point, near Norfolk.
Va., for new coal piers to be the greatest in the
world and from which the Berwind-White Coal
Co. will ship upward of 1,000,000 tons of West
Virginia Flat-Top coal a year. To haul this coal
the Norfolk & Western has ordered 50 new freight
engines and 6,000 new coal cars.
Plans have been prepared for the enlargement
of the coal washing plant of the Penn Gas Coal
Co. at Marchands, Pa., to have a capacity of 400
tons daily. Another part of the work will be
the increasing of the coal conveying apparatus.
It is the intention of the Penn company to build
50 additional coke ovens in the near future.
Among the new coke ovens to be built soon in
Fayette county. Pa., is a block of 80 ovens to be
added to the plant of the A. L. Keister Coke Co.
at Waltersburg. The surveying is now being
done for the new ovens.
The Kaola Fuel Co. will erect a $40,000 plant at
Everett, Wash., to manufacture coal briquettes.
Big Coke Plant Changes Owners.
The big coking plant of the United Coke & Gas
Co.. at South Sharon, Pa., has been turned over
to the Sharon Coke Co. The plant was erected
by the American Coke & Gas Construction Co.,
and cost $750,000. The Sharon Coke Co. has
decided upon extensive improvements, which will
include a new electric power house, a store house
and a large engine room. The plant will be one
of the most modern of the kind in the country.