Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-27

in the LnisHigeaeer Office to-day, and no
paper will be issued tomorrow.
p9-THE Coal DIGGERs' sTRIkE.-There
is no precedent neither is there any state
circumstances to justify the present con-
ditiOn of things at the Coal banks. We
cOncede to the Coal diggers the same ne.
cessity for an advance in prices which all
branches of industry these times claim for
themselves. 1t would be very uureasona-
bic TO expect men to pay an advance for so
many of the ntcessaries of life, and still
remain stationary in their own earnings.
No one expects this, aud no one demands
it. But there is a point beyond which any
advance is extortiOn and imposition, and
at which the public sense of justice indig-
nautly reyolts. We conceive that the de-
mands of the Coal diggers are now at this
point. They demand three cents per
bnshel for digging coal-all kinds of coal
that is coal they used TO get only half
cent for, and coal that they used to get
one and half and one aud three quarters
for. They now wish to count all sorts to-
gether and get three cents per bushel for
all that comes from their picks. There are
two classes of banks-called the horse
banks and the cart banks-in which differ
ent prices have been paid. Ia both half
a cent per bushel was paid for digging
refuse coal, or slack as it is called. In the
horse banks one and half cents were paid
for raked coal, and in the cart banks one
and three quarters. Previous to October
1891 these were the prices that were paid,
and coal was furnished by the haulers to
the citizens at five cents. In that month
the diggers advanced their prices quarter
OF cent on raked coal, in each of the banks
named. Aud still coal was furnished at
five cents. In September of this year an
other adTance.of quarter was made by the
diggers, and then coal was raised by the
haulers from I've 10 six cents per busnel.-
On the first of November another advance
of quarter was made by the diggers, and
coal again rasied to six and a half. Now
comes their demand for another raise, not
for quarter, but half cent, and coal
threatens TO go up to eight cents per
bushel.
Against this demand the coal merchants
have protested. They claim that it is uu-
reasonable and oppressive on consumers,
and they hold out against it. They say,
"Whers is this thing to stop Already
three advances have taken place in year
and two of them very lately. Who knows
what the next will BET" Consumers ask
themselves the same question. And no.
body can answer. Coal may keep going
on up indefinitely. 1t all depends on any
any new notion the diggers may take
Next week they may advance to four cents
Who knows. And the next to FIVE and SO
on without end
is computed, by those who ought to
know, that the present prices will pay au
average digger three dollars per day, which
is eighteen dollars per week, and seventy
two dollars per month. Now this is a rise
which certainly proportions any increase
in the price of living, and more. 1t ought
to be satisfactory. No one class of citizens
has right to Cypress another class simply
because they may have a temporary mo-
nOPOly in their hands. Such things al
ways react against those who practise
them. And they will react in thi s case
As equally the friend of the diggsrs and all
other classes of citizens, we would earnestly
counsel them TO look at the justice of this
matter. They must see that they are Cypress
ing the community. But few people car
afford to pay eight cents per bushel for
coal, twill bear disastrously on the poor
aud very hardly on every body. We hope
they will abats their demands within reas.
enable bounds. Certainly, in the long
run, it will not be less for their own inter.
est than that OF their consumers, to do SO
R3sLyER wARR AND JEwELRY.-It il
hardly necessary to call attention to til,
prominent advertisement of our enter
PFising friends j. t. Scott & Co., in anoth