Frostburg mining journal. [volume], July 17, 1880, Image 2

About Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913

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MINING JOURNAL.
J. B. ODER, Editor.
FK<)3TBUltt>, WP., JULY 17. 1880.
WHO SHALL SAVE TEE TRADEt
The miners' response to the com
panies' circular was sent to the rep
resentatives of the companies on
Tuesday. The full text is printed
elsewhere.
Like the paper which called it
forth, it is courteous in tone and bus
iness-like in purport. In these char
acteristics we are glad to see the
Journal's suggestions, if not adopted,
at least endorsed.
Those who have read the papers
from both sides have also seen that
the issue is fully made up and joined.
The one asks for a reduction of fifteen
cents; the other declines. The one
provides reasons for the request; the
other sees no force in them.
The careful student of this matter,
independent of the utterances so far
given out in this controversy, cannot
fail to discover that the undercut
ting competition of the Clearfield op
erators must necessarily reduce, de
press and cripple our production.
It will be found, also, that the re
duced price of mining in that field
is the smallest factor they possess.
Hence, the mere reduction of the cost
of labor here will not and cannot re
move or overcome the difficulties
thus presented. That poieer belongs
alone to the carriers.
The average haul from the Clear
field region to Tyrone is twenty eight
miles, and the charge for coal trans
portation is three-fourths of one cent
per ton per mile, or twenty-one cents
per ton for the twenty-eight miles
no charge being made for the use ol
cars.
The average haul from this region
—Borden Shaft to Cumberland—if
twenty miles, and the charges foi
tranportation and tolls for use of can
on all shipments to Baltimore, ar
two and-a-half cents per ton pei
mile, or, say fifty cents, per ton foi
the twenty miles.
Here is a difference of twenty nim
cents per ton against this region in lo
cal transportation alone.
In the face of this glaring discrim
ination against our coal, the presideni
of the company which imposes it it
the first to sign his name to a “state
ment of fact" upon which the sugges
tion is based that the miners should
reduce the price of labor to fifty oeuti
per ton. This remark has been madi
before, but it will bear repetition anc
repetition; it is a part of the gospe
of this controversy, to be proolaimec
in memorial of Mr. Mayer as long ai
he chooses to maintain this issue wit!
our people.
With his own twenty-nine centi
per ton transportation excess ovei
Clearfield staring him full in the face
• (for no one can know it better than
he,) he leads off in the appeal to min
ers to surrender fifteen cents of theii
wages—for what? To save the trade.
The miners' fifteen cents seems to be
the only life-boat visible; the twenty
nine cent preserver is too tightly
buckled around the railroad to save
anything but the railroad. But,
Cassius, bring your life boat here and
help me or/sink; this fifteen cent
affair is quite large enough to save us
all —bring it here, or accept the con
sequences.
As president of the Consolidation
coal company he is in a bad way ; as
president of the Cumberland and
Pennsylvania railroad company he
is all right. Of the forty-four cents
worth .of life-preservation locally
needed he has two thirds; if the mi
ners will yield the other he will have
it all.
It is a fact well established that
the Cumberland and Pennsylvania
and Baltimore and Ohio railroad
have made large fortunes every year
upon coal carriage from this region.
Dead water and iron have earned
fabulous wages, while living human
lone and tissue have merely kept
their organisms together. Still the
latter with life and health at stake,
are asked to relinquish twenty-three
per cent, of its earnings that the iron
horse may be able to turn his daily
hundreds into the treasury, already
collossal, of his owners. The vast
amount of money thus squeezed out
of this region have been wrung from
both labor and capital. How it has
been done Irom the former is appar
ent from the present movement up
on it, and when it is remembered that
a vast majority of stockholders in oth
er coal enterprises here have not re
alized a dividend for years, it may I e
readily seen that, so far as their invest
ments here are concerned, the stock
holder is but little better off than the
miner.
It was this very thing that made
the new railroad an accomplished
fact. The high transportation rates
which Mr. Mayer's circular cites as a
reason why the miners should come
down, absolutely drove the stock
holders of* certain* oompanieo to the
construction of the new road. It
forced the introduction of the element
of cheaper transportation, just as its
unrelenting opponents now insidious
ly threaten the introduction of cheap
er labor . Why cheaper labor ? Be
cause the new railroad forces the car
rying trade from Lonaconing to Cum
berland from fifty-two to thirty cents
per ton, and this must be indemnified
in some way.
In the outset and all through our
advocacy of the new road we have
had no interest at heart but the min
ers’. We have endeavored to win
the sympathy of our people for the
enterprise, because we saw in it an el
ement which would preserve their
wages. On this ground we have op
posed Mr. Mayer; on this ground Mr.
Mayer at length contends that his
high rates of transportation make it
necessary that wages should come
down, a solid affirmation of all we
have maintained in favor of the new
road.
Personally Mr. Mayer is a very es
timable gentleman; Mr. Loveridge is
the same. Both are public men, ad
ministering in some sense public
trusts. For Mr. Mayer, personally or
publicly, as insisting upon lower wa
ges, we care nothing; for Mr. Lover
idge, in the same sense and attitude,
we cars nothing.
Upon the companies' circular we
find the names of both these gentlemen.
With reference to consistency how do
they appear there? We have in
timated how the former stands; then
how the latter? Mr. Loveridge
could heartily join in every plea set
up in that paper for lower wages.
Who knows better than he that high
transportation compelled the building
of his road ? Who knows better than
he that the Cumberland and Penn
sylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
railroads have made Clearfield a rival
region ? Why, the policy which Mr.
Mayer represents has multiplied and
emphasized every plea for lower wa
ges I We really needed no new rail
road, but his rates made it indispensa
ble to both stockholders and miners.
With our geographical and artificial
advantages, and closer relations with
the seaboard, we should have dominat
ed the steam-generating coal market,
but his and Mr. Garrett’s policy has
put this magnificent region at the
beck and call of Clearfield, and depre
ciated our product to the level of a
confessedly inferior coal. Our Goliath
is slain every day by Clearfield’s lit
tle David, who would have never been
in the field but for the gigantic trib
ute levied upon this region by those
who should have fostered, protected
and developed it. From this quarter
comes the deman d for lower wages
that the miners may alone and single
handed protect us all from the trade
despotism it has created.
In the light of history Mr, Lover
idge may well subscribe to Mr. May
er’s pleas for lower wages. At this mo
ment ho cannot do otherwise ; he can
make no money as long as he has to pay
freight to Mr. Mayer, As soon as he
can pay this to himself he proposes
to save twenty-six cents per ton even
at the present price of mining. More
over, this proposition, we understand,
is to hold good with Mr. Mayer, who
intends to carry coal then as cheap as
anybody else. The tendency of Mr.
Loveridge's policy, then, is to reduce
the cost all round of marketing coal,
just precisely where the miners in
sist the redaction should be made.
To effect this in some measure Mr.
Mayer appeals for fiteen cents. Tuis
has been declined. The next appeal,
it is thretened, mil be made to i'we
den /
If there was a particle of sincerity
in the companyies circular, in view of
the distressed condition of the trade,
why will the leading spirit not throw
off now, “the accepted time,” the
twenty-six cents which ie to be drop
ped when the new road begins to car
ry coal? If fifteen cents from the
miners will save the trade, why
wouldn’t twenty-six cents from the
railroad save it ?
Gut leaving what the new railroad
and Sweden are going to do wholly
out of the question, the sincerity of
the companies’ solicitude for the trade
may be tested by their unwritten ul
timatum that “we will save the trade
by closing our mines /"
Great heavens, what logic I But
this thing is interminable in signifi
cances. Wo forbear. We will not
bo betrayed into anything inflamma
tory. Wo announce here to each
and every miner in this region that
not one . word above written is ad
dressed to him, but wholly and solely
to those corporations whose policy
has created all our troubles, and to
those solely in the interest of reform
ation and everlasting justice.
Our present solicitude for the mi
ners consists altogether in their being
able to hold on to their wages which,
under the circumstances, belong to
them, without breaking in the slight
est degree, a single law, civil, moral
or divine. Whatever they do, let it
be done in exact accordance with the
immortal principle of personal recti
tude which forbids doing wrong to
any one.
“Watchman," writing to the Val
ley Times last week, inquires:
Is it the intention ol the Mine In
spector to communicate hereafter only
through the Frobtbubo Mining Jour
nal? It it Is, there arc a large number of
miners who will never see his communi
cations, because they do not take that pa
per. I think he ought to communicate
with The Valley Times also, and give us
all an equal chance of knowing what he
has to say.
In the light of the Inspector’s fair
notice in the outset of his purpose in
this regard, “Watchman's" question
seems to be superfluous. Mr. Brown s
kind partiality for this paper as a
medium of communication with the
pnblio of this region was prompted by
his just, true, unflinching conviction
that the Journal, more than any oth
er agency, has given the miners their
“proper moral standing before the
public." He knows this cannot be
gainsaid, and we know it. We know,
moreover, that the Journal is feared
and respected to a degree not enjoyed
by any other paper in the county.
Hence it is no fault or misfortune of
the Inspector’s that “a large number
of miners will never see his communi
cations," etc. In the first place he
is not, and never has been, under the
slightest obligation to publish week
ly reports in any paper; and, in the
next place, he is under (if we may so
state) less obligation to provide du
plicate copies for any other papers
because, in that case, all would have
equal claim upon him. Then Mr.
Brown would be able to fill all his
time writing reports and have none
left in which to hunt up material for
reports.
“Yes," saida miner to us the other
day, “but why can't you send the
Valley Times a proof sheet of Brown't
letters?”
“Ah, indeed! is that it?" answered
we ; "will you be kind enough to in
form’ us where our obligation to the
Valley Times comes in? or to the
large number of miners who, Mr
“Watchman" says, “do not take
the Journal?”
We have great respect for “Watch
man he appears to be a fair, good,
kind, honest man. Now suppose it
should be asked abroad in some con
nection, “are the miners (like
“Watchman") all rational, clevei
people ? If they are, there is a large
number of people who will never find
it out, because the miners do not sus
tain the Journal —a paper which
has uniformly and efficiently sustain
tained them." How would that
sound? Just about as reasonable af
his inquiry and statement sounds tc
us. _
The responsibility for opposing and
obstructing the new road in Cumber
land is said to be unloaded upon
somebody else about one thousand
times a day. It was the “other fol
low” who did it all; or, "if it hadn'l
been for him," etc. It’s going to give
some future prospects a mighty sighf
of trouble.
GENERAL ITEMS.
Arizona has a town named Tomb
stone, and Tombstone has a paper
called the Epitaph.
A dispatch fiom Newport, Mon
mouthshire, England, states that a
fearful explosion occurred Thursday
morning in the New Black Vein coal
pit, by which not less than 128 lives
were lost.
Sir Lowthian Bell’s prediction that
“Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia
would be the centre of the iron in
dustry of the country within the next
fifty years,” seems to be in a fairway
of being tealizsd.
A concession in the rates of min
ing ought to be made, but there is al
so an opportunity for a reduction in
the rates of transportation. The
Pennsylvania road always takes care
of the Clearfield operators ; why
should not the Baltimore and Ohio do
the same ?—Coal Trade Journal,
At a camp-meeting a venerable sis
ter began the hymn :
My soul be on thy guard,
Ten thousand foes arise.
She began too high. “Ten thousand,”
she screeched, and stopped. "Bettor
start her at five thousand 1" suggested
a converted stock broker present.
Convention op Miners. —The
Ohio miners met in State convention
at Columbus Wednesday, with about
forty delegates present.
After organizing the convention
adjourned until 7 p. m., when the first
question was whether reporters should
be admitted. The principal matters
discussed were the resolutions adopt
ed at Pittsburg in March, making
eight hours a day’s labor in the bitu
minous fields ; compelling coal to le
weighed before screening, and the
system of “pluck me" stores, and ar
bitration'.
Mine Inspector Roy and Commis
sioner of Labor Statistics, H. J. Wallg 1
read papers on the Ohio mining laws
and arbitration.
ADDRESS TO TEE COMPANIES.
To the Officers of the Several Mining
Goal Companies of Georges Creek
Valley:
We, your employeess, have duly
and carefully taken your appeal into
consideration, and after calm delib
eration, and reasoning each and every
point in your appeal, we have come
to the conclusion under the circum
stances as laid before us, we, as your
respective employees, cannot see the
grounds upon which that we, as a
branch of that industry, should give
way any part of the price of our labor,
while others, as directly interested as
we are, should maintain their over
share, such as railroad and canal cor
porations.
Another thing: We see no just
reason why we should te requested
to give away anything, seeing that
our market price is higher now than
when we received the advance.
Also in regard to the hour ques
tion : We know that the hours are
not as long as some of our employers
desire us to labor, but after due and
calm deliberation we cannot see any
just ground for us to retrograde into
the dark ages of heathendom. Onr
aim is to progress forward into an en
lightened age. Therefore we are not
disposed to give away any of the
hours. Wo also know that some of
the employees have infringed upon
these just laws, but by giving us time
we shall correct their abuses, know
ing that we are dealing with intelli
gent beings that they will not expect
us to be perfectionists. We ask you
to bear it in mind that all abuses
shall be attended to that shall be
brought before us.
Should the above resolutions not
meet your approval we are willing to
have the case laid before a Board of
Arbitration and have it fairly dis
cussed and a just decision rendered
according*!© the findings of the arbi
trator, whose decision shall be final.
Executive Committee.
RESOLUTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE ALiOVK,
1. Resolved, That we, your employ
es, shall not maintain any driver or
laborer in not performing their duty
faithfully.
2. Resolved, That we shall not sus
tain any in recklersness or careless
ness to the destruction of life and
property, for should any ono lo guilty
he shall throw himself liable to the
discretion of the boss, and must suf
fer the consequences.
3. Resolved, That should any per
son or persons cease labor without in
structions from the men of the mine
he shall throw himself liable to con
sequences from his boss.
4. Re olved, That wo shall not
maintain any laborer who shall cease
labor before his time is up; and with
respect to the drivers, wo shall noi
maintain any one pulling up at hall
past four it he should be required to
make another trip if it should take
him to quarter past five. Or, in otaei
words, give one day and take the
other.
5. Resolved, That should any one
be discharged it shall be the duty ol
any one who is able, to take his place
until the case is investigated.
Executive Committee.
A steady stream of oil flows
through the streets of DukeCentie,
one of the most thriving oil toms.
Producers still complain that many
thousand barrels of oil are daily going
to waste, either for the want of tank
age or the refusal of the pipe lines to
run the oil.
Orphans’ Court.—At the regular
session Tuesday W. R. Percy, admin
istrator of James J. Shaw, deceased,
settled his first and final account.
Archibald W. McDonald, guardian
to David and Nannie llartzell, settled
his fifth account.
Immense deposits of iron ore have
been discovered in Placer county,
California.
Mow Advertisements.
'~A JL.LA.3ST LIHSTE 1
STEAM BETWEEN
BALTIIHOKKtVMVKKPOOL
Calling at
HALIFAX ami QUEENSTOWN.
Each way.
I'he splendid Screw Steamers ofthe above
Line will run as follows:
Prom
Tons. Baltimore
3000 CASPIAN July 28
3300.. NOVA SCOTIAN...Aug II
3000 HIBERNIAN “ a*.
8000 CASPIAN Sept 8
3300.. .NOVA SCOTIAN... •' 22
1300 HIBERNIAN Oct (i
And thereafter from Baltimore every fort
night.
Allsteumcrs are appointed to leave Bal
timorc at 0 a. m , on their advertised
dates.
Steerage Passage to or from Liverpool
Glasgow,Queenstown,Dublin,or Belfast
S2B, Currency. Very best accommodations
lor Steerage and Intermediate Passengers.
Anexperienced surgeon is attached tocaeh
vessel. Intermediate and Steerage steward
esses carried by cachsteamcr for the pur
pose of attending to the wants of the fe
males and children. For further particu
lars, or passage tickets to and from Great
Britain, apply to
A.SCHUMACHER* CO.,Baltimore; .
in Frosthurg to J. JANDORF,
May 22-y Main Street.
Great Revolution
IN DRV GOODS !
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY
And B. STERN <fc CO ,’S is the place
JLO brO.
r 9 All-wool black CASHMERE only 48 HN
0 W cents ll yard.
CL f*w r) All-wool CASHMERE in all the lead
__ IJUJ j >5 Ing styles and shades at 50 cents a yard.
UU _ 1 rrt Remember that these goods arc ACL
-1 ' C 3 UQ r r\ WOOL, and a great bargain 1 f)
i * S a* LW A new lino of superior finish yard-wide w** -
OASUMERE at !I5 ccnta a yard.
_ | A large lot of black brilliant!ne AL- i-3
€ m _ K PACA at 35 cents, worth 35. M f V H
■ ■ PH *■’ r Handsome SPRING DRESS GOODS t> /*TI V J
j * j H at 10 cents a yard. 63 ' w hH
tj X TJ Stylish DARK DRESS GOODS, only . (“f i LJ
CQ O O 10 cents a yard. g s—f. pH .
p£] ■" ""I /-s O Novelties in Dress Goods 3 /ns L \M*i S
rK ST" y *rt |> at Id. 131. 15. 18 and 30 cents per yard. Q ' W t_
VJ V--# br tT & VICTORIA PACIFIC, and INDIA > ►—k ~ [“
DAWNS, at 10 and 13i cents per yaid. C V y
3 ■— >s Having bought largely before the ad- g Hy Mrf ff
m Jp m g o than manufacturers' prices. 4
iVI 1,000 pieces of the very best dark t >. tjo tO
-T I - ' O CALICO down to 7 cents. t> '■ A TZI
Yard-wide MUSLIN down to 7,8, and W
CQ S-l L d 81 cents—the very best. K 1 V*
M IYI £ ~ £ Our stock of cq yO 'j' i_3
S * ■ PP Tickings, Checks, Cheviots, Flannels, o h"M . 3
M i—j Drills, Sheeting Muslins, Pillow Mus- BP '■'
Sf n flj H I lins, Nainsooks, Cambrics, Percal- M v-h j j P“^
H (T) ines, Ginghams, Ac., Ac., Ac., 21 H
•. r! PH Hk. is TIIUI.Y WOKDERFUIi I H Q t- j U H
C_, ■ 1 r. , (< and for sale at prices considerably below W
b 2 t former rates. 55 f"" - X . hH
CQ Ctf PQ g j SILKS, m ®
W □ r-s fL Large line of TRIMMING SILK in ill g H
_j _ _ m L_ rn the new and stylish shades, at exceedingly
5 S 3 kd L nQ hoavv TABLE LININ at 38 I U QO O
IJ L 5 L Cl cents; better qualities at 35, 10,45 and 50 „ i /"1
rn "TJ F| a |ccnts; fine DAMASK TABLE LINEN erj”
lj* ill C and TURKEY RED at very low prices.
fi ■ ■ d An unusually largo assortment of VA- . v .
DJ ■kLi HR a LENCIENNES, BRETON and BItO- N aHl >
Z V| 0 CADE LACES, HAMBURG EMBROID- k^O
\\ 1 "I y fy3 buy and INSEKTINGS, CORSETS, /""ft LL
,*H GLOVES, at prices low cnougli to aston- V. U QOU
y p£J tsh everybody. V 'C SS-
So, bear in mind, we want you to give us a chance BEFORE you buy one garment, or spend one dollar for
Clothing, Dry Goods, Notions, Boots, Shoes, Hats, &c., &c., &c.
R S I FRN rV CO Main Street ’ •
D. O 1 I-lA-> tx V A PBOSTBURG, MD.
Trustee’s Sac of Valuable
LEASEHOLD PROPERTY
In FroHtburK, Mil,
BY virtue of u decree of the Circuit
Court lor Allegany county in Equity,
dated the 9th day of June, 1880, and pass
ed in a cause wherein The Froallmrg Per
petual Building Association is complain
ant and John W. Tumlinsomaml wife are
defendants, it being No.tiOlOon the Equity
Docket of said Court, the undersigned, as
Trustee appointed by said decree, will of
ler at public sale in Ironl of Ihe Grand
Central Hotel, in Frostburg, Md., on
Knliirdny. July 17,
AT 10J O’CLOCK, A. M.,
All those Two Parcels of L'liseholtl
Property
Lying and being in the town of Frostburg
contiguous to each other, and fronting
on Water street in said town, being
parts of a lot known as Lot Mo. 21 on
the plat of Frostburg, partieuhuly de
scribed as follows: Beginning, lor the
first parcel, at the end of 20 feet on the
8d lino of said whole Lot No. 21, and
running thence S. 11 degrees, East 14
feet; N. 40 deg., E. 75 feet; X. 41 dog ,
W. 44 feet; thence by a straight line to
the beginning. And beginning for the
second of said parcels at the end of 00
Icet on the 2d line of said whole Lot Xo.
21,and running thence S. 40 deg., W. 75
feet; 3. 41 deg., E. 20 feet; N. 49 deg.,
E. 75 feel; thence by a straight line to
the lieginning, being the same lots which
are described iu the Assignment of Lease
from John Anderson to John W. Tom
linson, dated Sept. 22d,1874, and record
ed in Liter T. L., No. 43, folio 2(12, one
of the Land Records of Allegany county
The first i hove named Lot is subject to
un annual ground rent of $44, and the sec
ond to an annual ground lent of S2O.
The improvements consist of a TWO
-BTOUY BRICK DWELLING- MS4
HOUSE, 1(1 by 25 feet, and a djjnlj
FRAME BUILDING. 44J by 181 iflldjL
fctl, suitable and eligibly located for Wag
o i an.l Blacksmith Shops.
Ter mu of note a* prescribed by the decree :—
CASH on the day of sale, or up. n ratifica
tion thereof by the Court.
lIENJ, A RICHMOND,
WILLIAM M. PRICE,
Juno 2-4 t Trustees.
TRY A SACK OF
j. av. DEisrisris’
Virginia j-Awciv
Grrai mlatecl
Amber Flour.
XT IS GOOD.
R. 8. ODER.
Next door to Post Olllcc, west.
One Seeoml-Haml Solid Gold
hunting case watch,
With New Works,
AND GUARANTEED A FIRST
CLASS TIME-KEEPER, can be
bought very low at the store ol
June 14 D. J. BETZ. (
! MYT/, /a
j v ‘BUT
I Love One Another,”
j Am BUY YOUR
Hardware, Woodenwore
TINWARE, BRUSHES & STOVES AT
FRANK C. .BEALL’S
“Mammoth” Hardware and Stove Store.
BUY THE CELEBRATED
ARLINGTON
COOKING STOVE
Whose Merits the Public Praise in Song.
OF
FINE TABLE AMD POCKET CU/'LEIiI, HOUSE
FURNISHING HARDWARE, POWDER, (! CMS,
REVOLVERS, PUMPS, JHDLYG AMD
DRIVIXG WHIPS, UJHD CAGES,
PLY TRAPS, RAT ‘.RAPS, &0., &o.
P. C. BEALL,
July 17J FROSTBUBG. 2SJI3D,