The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-22 00:00:00

(From the Daily Telegraph.)

-
"Among the indirect results of the coal crisis is the
etoppage, partial or entire, of industries that have far
less to do with that mineral as coneumere than iron.
We observe that Lancashire is beginning to groan
heavily under the burden now iraposed, not so much
becatuse the price has been increased, as because sup-
plies cannot be obtained at any price. Some of the
cotton-spinnere have closed their mills wholly, and
others partially; a few work only during the hours
of daylisht, to save get; and so on. It RO hap-
pens that, even before the coal famine began, the
position of the cotton industry was sufficiently
trying. At the last meeting of the • Manchester
Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Hugh Mason, its Presi-
dent, declared that although 1571 was, to the trade
generally, a profitable 3 ear, the laid twelve months
had been very iouch the opposite. Manufacturers have
hail to contend with glutted markets abroad, which
presented them from realising priers for their goods.
that left a margin of profit on the cost of produc-
tion. Within the laet month a gradual decline in the
raw material has come to their aid, and they were
beginning to hope that they would noon realise a re•
munerative price, when the coal misis supervened to
make their last state wires than their first. Lament-
able as this result is, the lesson it teaches to work-
ing men is of great value. The miners who delibe
rate'y and of set purpose will not work over three
days a week—in i riler th it they may prevent stosks
of coals from accumulating, and thus keep the whole
community, as they hope, absolutely at their mercy—
will noun discover that the whole community will
discuss seriously whether it is right that this
ebaslutely dep ndence sln.uld be permitted to continue.
Whets it comes ti be is question of the issor periehing
by hundreds, • f natioael indu-tries destroyed, of
individual efforts paralysed by land and see, merely
that a few thousand m-n may ha' e facilities for
revelling in merge an mal pleasures, eiternatiog
vri h idlenees, for four days out out of seven, there
can be lit Is doubt as to the answer. Mr. Mon
deltas proposed inquiry can hardly thtow much light
on ths canoes of the eit ircity ; it would be better that
the Member for Sheffield should at once apply himself
to the practical difficulty, how beet to increase the
output of coal, with special reference to the introduc-
tion of fresh oupplies of labour. If our present
colliers will not work even at extravagant wages, we
must get others who will. The world is at our service,
and a reserve of unemployed men exists in more than
o.pe country which, under the pressure of stern neces-
sity, we might promptly utilise.

TO A PONDEROUS witirEß.
WREN tyrants award brave GRACCHUS.doom,
The Sen‘te vowd, wet e told,
Whoe'er might bring his head to Rome,
Should have it. weight in gold.
A sordid knight, with murdnium paths,
Strack off the gallant's head,
And, having robbn it of the brains,
Finn up the skull with lead.
Should such a knave ay head procure,
When thousrt in churchyard shady,
He'll need no plumber's art, be sure—
The lead la there already