Fairfax Mine Workers Await Paychecks
After the closure of the Montezuma and Washington Co-operative mining operations, workers expect overdue wages in the form of receiver's certificates.
Henry Bucey, receiver of the Washington Co-operative Mining syndicate and the Montezuma Mining company, has returned from Fairfax, where he went to close down the mine owned jointly by the companies. Receiver Bucey will return to Fairfax today and pay all claims for labor performed since last November. Payments will be made in receiver's certificates. The money for the payment of all claims, the receiver says, has been provided for. Mr. Bucey stated that he found everything in excellent condition and the only thing which would prevent the mines of the company being a paying proposition was the market.
“Payments will be made in receiver's certificates.”
The struggle for fair and timely wages remains a cornerstone of the labor movement. The use of 'receiver's certificates' highlights the precarious nature of work in 1904, where employees were often left holding promissory notes instead of cash when mining syndicates faltered.
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