Southeast Kootenay Report

SOUTHEAST KOOTENAY – Report of J.F. Armstrong Government Agent for 1903.

            ….The pay-roll of the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Company approached $1,800,000 for the year, an average of $150,000 per month.  The number of men employed are:

            Fernie Mines               427                  Coke Ovens                117

            Michel Mines              583                  Coke Ovens                106

            Morrissey Mines          291                  Coke Ovens                  25

                        Total             1,301                                                      248

            Besides 287 men employed on construction and in the different offices of the company.  The daily capacity of the mines at present are: Fernie 1200 tons; Michel 1400 tons; Morrissey 800 tons.  A strike lasting from the middle of February to the first of April seriously reduced the output.  At present the relations between the company and its employees is candid.

            During the year 100 coal licenses have been in force on Upper Elk River.  A syndicate, holding 44 licenses, has expended over $10,000 in prospecting and developed numerous seams of valuable coal.  Another syndicate on Fording river has also done valuable development work.

            There have been 24 saw-mills at work in the district.  These mills employ in all about 1,800 men.  Wages paid average $50 a month and board.

            ….In Southeast Kootenay there has been considerable activity during the past year, five new sawmills having been started, two of the capacity of about 25,000 feet, one of 35,000 feet and one of 75,000 feet; the last mentioned is preparing to double its capacity.  On the other hand, two sawmills have closed down, on account of the fact that with a limited capital at their command and the very narrow margin of profit on which they were working, and on which as a matter of fact, all the mills in this district are working, they are unable to tide over a season of difficulty.  Another larger mill has also closed down.

            Rates of wages that have prevailed ran from $35.00 to $40.00 for unskilled labor, until a short time ago, when the mills were forced to make a reduction on account of the very considerable decrease in the demand for lumber.  The rates run now from $30 to $35.  As to the relations which have existed between employers and employees, there has not been the least difficulty, nor is there any likely to arise with the lumbermen in this district.  It is the invariable rule that the men are well satisfied with their employer’s treatment of them.