LABOR: Miners' Miseries

In West Virginia are 112,000 coal miners. One-third of them are unemployed. Another one-third work only two or three days per week. For each ton of coal they mine they get 28¢. They work ten to twelve hours, earn from $2.60 to $4 per day. They live in company-owned shacks, without heat or light. Their rent is $10 per month. The companies charge them $1.50 per ton for fuel coal. They never see any U. S. cash. The companies pay them with company scrip, metal tokens good only at company stores. At these...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!