REPLY OF THE LEHIGH, PROF. SMITH'S BRAIN, THOMAS DODD, JOHN TRUCK, ELECTION EXPENSES, CORTLAND HOSPITAL, AND BOARD OF PRISONERS

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, November 17, 1902.

REPLY OF THE LEHIGH

To the Demands of the Miners For Higher Wages.

CLAIMS PROFITS ARE SMALL.

Development of the Company—Statement of Wages Paid—Several Classes of Workmen—Railroad Rates Not Exorbitant—Habits of Some of the Foreigners.

   Philadelphia, Nov. 17.—The statement of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company, submitted to the anthracite coal strike commission now in session at Scranton, Pa., in answer to the demands of the miners, has been made public.

   The answer recites the development of the company from the date of its charter in 1822, refers to the expense of operation and to the comparatively small profits, and declares the demand of the employes for an increase of 20 per cent is unjustifiable, the reasons given in support of the demand not being founded on fact. Accompanying the statement are two exhibits.

   One shows the earnings of the employes of the company for one year, based on the time worked during 1901, the number of several classes of workmen and the rates paid according to the payroll for the first half of May, 1902.

   The other is a catalogue of overt acts charged to the striking employes of the company during the recent contest, the riots, assaults and disturbances of various kinds being numbered at upwards of 60.

   The document says: "The Lehigh Coal and Navigation company owns and controls about 14,000 acres of coal lands in Carbon and' Schuylkill counties, which are estimated to contain over 500,000,000 tons of available unmined coal. Its employes number about 6,000 and its capacity of production is over 200,000 tons a month.

   "Its capital stock and funded debt amount to upwards of $32,000,000. All of its capital stock and bonds were issued for full value, but although its more important coal lands were purchased at a time when the country was a wilderness and its lands have been acquired at moderate prices, the dividends upon its capital stock to date only average 4.02 per cent.

   "The profit on coal mined by the company during the 10 years ending Dec. 31, 1901, has averaged 11.09 cents per ton after charging off taxes on coal lands and depreciation, but not including any charge for royalty, which represents the value of coal in the ground.

   "Nor were the rates of freight upon the railroad exorbitant, as is shown by the fact that the company operated its own canal but found it advantageous to send the coal to market over the railroad rather than by the canal."

   Referring to the claim of the miners that better wages are paid in the bituminous fields for substantially similar work the answer states: "This company does not know what rates of wages are paid in the bituminous coal fields throughout the country, but there is nowhere in any field substantially similar work to that which is done under contract in the mines of this company. It is a fact, however, that miners of ordinary skill and experience have always been able to go from the mines of this company to any other mining region throughout the country and obtain employment."

   "In 1901 for a day of 10 hours contract miners earned an average of $3.14 per day; skilled laborers, $2.31; unskilled laborers, $1.83; boys, $1 for work underground. The rates for outside labor average as follows: Skilled labor, $1.96; unskilled labor, $1.28; boys, 77 cents. The average annual earnings of adults were $475.25.

   Denial is made of the claim of the miners that their earnings are insufficient to maintain the American standard of living and, concerning the employes of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation company these figures are given out: "Out of 3,043 families, 870 own their own houses. Pianos will be found in 146 and house organs in 337. The company owns and rents to its employes 671 houses, at an average rental of $4.75 a month."

   Regarding the employment of boys the statement says: "Slate picking is a very easy occupation compared to work done by the boy on a farm and many are needed to take care of the mine mules and other light work and in this way the wages of the household are largely and legitimately increased."

   "Some of the foreigners," according to the statement, "prefer to live in a very niggardly and squalid manner, so that they may accumulate the larger part of their earnings, and return to Europe to live in idleness; but those who have their permanent home in the region have at least $1,000,000 on deposit in the banks and savings funds in the vicinity, saved from the wages earned in the employment of this company."

 

Prof. Goldwin Smith.

PROFESSOR SMITH'S BRAIN.

Says Cornell University Can Have It When He is Done With It.

   Toronto, Ont., Nov. 17.—Professor Goldwin Smith has willed his brain to Cornell university of Ithaca, N. Y. Professor Smith said:

   ''I have hitherto looked upon this thing as a joke, but now I see it has been taken seriously. I shall certainly keep my promise made to Professor Wilder of Cornell.

   "A short time ago I met this gentleman, who is the professor of physiology, and we got talking on the subject of the brain. He informed me he made a specialty of brain collections. In a joking way I told him he could have mine when I was done with it. This was in a joking way; but now the thing has been taken seriously I will certainly make arrangements that my promise shall be carried out.

   "I am now in my 80th year and the legacy may fall soon."

 

TRUXTON, N. Y.

Death of Postmaster Thomas Dodd Monday Morning—Ill Several Months.

   Truxton, Nov. 17.—Postmaster Thomas Dodd, Jr., died at his home in Railroad-st. at 5:55 this morning after an illness of several months. Mr. Dodd who was always a strong, robust man, was taken early in the spring with a severe pain in his head which was caused by an abscess forming there as an effect of an attack of the grip. He went to St. Joseph's hospital in Syracuse for treatment and there he remained several months. Several operations were performed which were thought to be successful. Coming home in September he seemed to be much better, but only for a short time. He gradually began to fail and was a great sufferer to the end.

   Mr. Dodd was born in Canada about sixty-five years ago and came to the states when quite young. He learned the trade of a blacksmith and followed his trade here until a few years ago when he retired from active business.

   He was a member of Cortlandville lodge, F. & A. M., No. 470: Truxton Lodge, A. O. U. W., No. 442; Miller grange, P. of H., and Volney Baker Post, G. A. R. He was a veteran of the civil war, having served in the Twenty-third New York Volunteers. In politics he was a Republican, always taking a great interest in the welfare of the party. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster here by President William McKinley, which office he has since held.

   The funeral will be held from his late home Wednesday at 2 o'clock. He leaves besides a widow, a daughter, Mrs. Newell Baldwin, a brother Edward of Syracuse, besides many friends to mourn his loss.

 

THE EXECUTION OF TRUCK

To Occur at Auburn Prison Tomorrow Morning at 6:15 o'clock.

   District Attorney T. H. Dowd, Sheriff A. R. Overton, Dr. H. T. Dana, Mr. Delos Bauder and Deputy County Clerk S. K. Jones are the Cortland men who have received invitations to attend the electrocution of John Truck which is to take place tomorrow morning at 6:15 o'clock at Auburn prison.

   District Attorney Dowd is in Syracuse, and it is not known whether or not he expects to go to Auburn. Sheriff Overton has declined the invitation. Mr. Jones has already gone to Auburn and will be present. Dr. Dana could not tell at the hour of going to press if it would be possible for him to get away. Mr. Bauder has signified his intention of going to Auburn tonight in order that he may be at the prison tomorrow at the appointed time.

   Before the majority of the residents of this city will have had their breakfast tomorrow morning John Truck will have paid the penalty of his crime committed in March, 1899.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Democrats Slain in the Election Cyclone of 1902.

   Never in the history of elections in this country has there been such destruction to the leaders of any party as has befallen the Democratic party this fall. From the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean the hills and the valleys are dotted with the Democratic political dead. No leader of any prominence remains. David B. Hill heads the list of the departed. Having, after several years of retirement, captured the control of the Democratic party in this state, forced the nomination of Coler and placed the populistic and socialistic coal plank in the platform, he took entire control of the campaign and refused to allow Mr. Coler to make any speeches up in the state, while he himself threw mud at and slandered Governor Odell from platform and press. He ventured his whole political future upon the result. It became so evident that it was Hill's campaign—Hill's first move for the Democratic nomination for president in 1904, that all his trickery and fraud in the past and especially his stealing of the legislature a few years ago were brought to mind, and the people went to the polis determined to make an end of him—and they did it. Even the Albany Argus, the official organ of the Democratic party at the capital of the state, declares he is a "Jonah" and must be cast overboard. Thus ends Hill.

 

ELECTION EXPENSES.

Full List Filed for Both County and City of Cortland.

   Friday was the last day for candidates at the recent election to file their statements of election expenses. The complete lists of all who have done so in compliance with the law are:

County.

   William H. Foster, to county committee, livery, postage and car fare, $415; William A. Coon, nothing; Arthur L. Powers, nothing; Luke J. McEvoy, $170.50; J. A. June, nothing; B. R. Parsons, nothing; E. L. Tanner, nothing; C. F. Place, $280; Henry A. Dickerson, paid county committee $400; Ernest W. Childs, paid county committee $240; Henry C. Higgins, nothing; James A. Wood, for postage, livery, car fare and stenographer's fees, $13.95; Thurlow Blackman, paid county committee $10; Frank D. Reese,  for collections at meetings and car fare $1.20.

City.

   Charles F. Brown, $10; F. C. Parsons, nothing; A. W. McNett, $2; R. L. Davis, $170; James Dougherty, $175; U. S. Milburn, nothing; G. J. Maycumber, $75; C. V. Coon, nothing; B. L. Bentley, nothing; E. W. Bates, $11.30; L. M. Loope, nothing; J. E. Edwards, nothing; D. M. Fuller, nothing; J. S. Rice, nothing; E. O. Woodbury, nothing; F. H. Rice, nothing; R. D. McMillan, nothing; E. R. Wright, livery, $8; E. D. Mallery, nothing; R. J. Lucas, nothing; C. E. Ingalls, $10; E. H. Medes, nothing; B. M. Phelps, nothing; Vern Skeele, $15; Horace W. Hall, nothing; J. L. Maritt, nothing; A. C. Walrad, $10; Philo Mead, nothing; J. A. Jayne, nothing; J. A. Smith, nothing; O. F. Allen, nothing; C. D. Sanders, nothing; N. Jay Peck, $10; E. B. Nash, nothing; George Chatterton, nothing; Albert Dilthey, nothing; H. J. Baker, nothing; Albert Allport, nothing.

 

Cortland Hospital on North Main Street.

HOSPITAL DONATION DAY.

Friday, Nov. 21—Everybody Invited to Contribute to the Cause.

   Friday, Nov. 21, will be the annual donation day at the Cortland hospital. The members of the board of managers will be in attendance to receive the gifts and to show the callers about the hospital. Light refreshments will be served. Anything in the line of fruit, canned fruit, vegetables, old linen or household supplies will be acceptable. Farmers are urged to bring anything they desire from their farms, as it is to be remembered that the nurses require food as well as patients.

 

BOARD OF PRISONERS.

Onondaga Co. Presents its Bill for Accommodations at Penitentiary.

   Last Saturday the [Cortland County] supervisors held a short session, adjourning at 10 o'clock until Monday at 10 o'clock.

   Clerk E. C. Alger presented the annual statement of the Onondaga county penitentiary, for board of convicts from Nov. 1, 1901, until Nov. 1, 1902. The statement contained an itemized account of ten prisoners, sentenced for various forms and amounting to $307.80, being at the rate of $2.10 a week each.

   The communication was referred to the committee on county judge and justices and finally to the committee on appropriations.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A regular meeting of the- Woman's Relief Corps will be held Tuesday at 2:30.

   —A meeting of the N. P. L. will be held Tuesday evening, Nov. 18, at 7:30 o'clock in Good Templars' hall.

   —Evangelistic meetings will be held at the Homer-ave. M. E. church every evening this week except Friday evening.

   —Cortlandville lodge, No. 470, F. and A. M. will confer the second degree at its regular communication Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The new display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Yarn, etc., page 6; S. Simmons, Clothing, page 6; Warren, Tanner & Co., underwear and table linen, page 6; F. H. Maricle, Closing out of harness, robes, etc., page 5; Oriental rugs, page 2.