In the early settlement days of Oklahoma, coal miners who were immigrants from out of the country were often paid very low wages. They were typically paid based on the amount of coal they were able to mine, with little regard for their safety or well-being. Many immigrants were exploited by coal mine owners and were forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions for very little pay. The exact wages varied depending on the time period and specific circumstances, but generally speaking, these miners earned a meager income that was barely enough to survive on.
I thought that some of them were payed in something like paystubs that could only be used at the company store?
Yes, that is correct. Many coal miners in Oklahoma and other mining towns across the United States were paid in company-issued scrip, which were essentially non-cash vouchers or tokens that could only be used at the company store. This system allowed mining companies to maintain control over their employees and keep them in debt, as the prices at the company store were often inflated. Miners were essentially forced to buy their essentials from the company store, which created a cycle of indebtedness and dependency on the mining company. This practice was exploitative and contributed to the poor working conditions and low wages experienced by many immigrant coal miners in the early settlement days of Oklahoma.
