Keeping the Miners Fed When the Coal Market Collapsed
Receiver John H. Bryant asks a judge to spend $500 clearing company land near the Gilman mines so idle miners can grow hay for the company's horses — and keep drawing wages through the slump.
John H. Bryant, receiver of the Seattle Coal & Iron Company, yesterday presented to Superior Judge Langley a petition asking leave to expend $500 in having cleared a tract of land owned by the company and situated in the vicinity of the company's mines at Gilman. The receiver states that, owing to the present depressed condition of the coal market, he has operated the mines only about one-third of the time. By reason of this, a large number of the employes of the company are idle a large portion of the time.
The company has a large number of horses and mules used in the operation of the mines, and for their support a large amount of money is paid out continuously. The land referred to, the receiver states, can be easily cleared and will then be capable of producing a large crop of hay for the maintenance of the animals. Then, too, many of the idle employes of the company will receive several months' work which will give them material aid in the support of their families.
“Many of the idle employes of the company will receive several months' work which will give them material aid in the support of their families.”
When the coal market slumped, the Seattle Coal & Iron Company's receiver didn't simply idle the mines — he asked a judge to fund land-clearing so miners could grow hay for the company's horses and keep collecting wages. It's an early Puget Sound lesson in what a company owes its workers when the market turns.
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