Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 2t
"Theii' employment is so entirely different and dangerous trom others they
become oblivious from custom to that state of things that the most benevolent
feelings become blunted by the constant repetition of these frightful
-casualties. Sad as this spectacle may appear it becomes the more sadder
by the unsettled state of society that tends to embitter public sympathy
against them, and turns aside friends and benefactors from real deserving
cases and calls down the indignant frown of public opinion on the community
that the innocent spectators must suffer the severity of critical reflections
as well as the very few participators in follies and evil misdeeds meets
with universal condemnation.
Suspensions.
Forcible suspensions of labor and production of the district collieries are
fruitful agencies of distress, entailing a series of ill feeling and discredit,
as is consequent upon such condition of affairs in as large communities as
are met with in the coal region. The masses are obliged to maintain themselves
by their earnings ; being otherwise non-productive, the policy of
steady employment at moderate wages when the state of the trade is unsettled
would be of more real benefit. As labor is far in excess of the demand
the state of society becomes excited. As the questions at issue do
not appear to be very popular outside the localities that are directly interested,
it appears that no intermediate agencies desires to come forward
that could or would effect a solution of this vexed question, but leave the
antagonists to treat the matter after their owA manner of thinking. But
whilst all this is going on it not alone affects these rival elements, but the
whole community at large is sustaining incalculable injury.
Might not a law be enacted that could set limits to such difficulties by
authorizing the executive to appoint a commission of judges of our courts,
and an equal number of persons representing the disputing interests, that
are fully competent to discuss questions relating to both, fully and fairly,
and the act of two-thirds of such commission should be binding after the
same would be reviewed by the Attorney General and approved by the
Oovernor ; and this commission to be to all intents and purposes a commission
for adjusting such claims from whose decision there should be no
appeal ? The parties refusing to comply with the award could be held accountable
for infringement on the law. Some such system would at once
remove the disputation out of the power of agitators. No suspensions or
coercion should be permitted on either side, and the community could follow
their accustomed employment and business as all good citizens should and
ought to.
Operators.
Operators of coal mines, as a class of business merchants, generally labor
under many expensive disadvantages. When the mine has been worked
to the third or fourth lift the power needed for drainage, mining and ventilation
is exceedingly expensive, besides the large amount of dead or unproductive
work that. must consequently ensue ; and unless the veins are profitable
to work abandonment must be the result. In that case the current
belief is the operator wronged some one and got rich, while the truth is
the reverse.
There are few collieries that do or can work over two-thirds of the year
under favorable circumstances, and many not that, either while the other
part of the year or time while idle does not tend to reduce the current expenses,
and unless he lias the good fortune of having in his employ practical,
prudent officers, full}' competent under ever^' emergency to do the man.