The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-24
THE STRIKE OF THE MINERS.
Arrival Of TrOOps--Origin Of The DIFF
6euIty--NO Disturbance OF the PeSee
s-uinIng Operations suspended


Correspondence Of the Chicsgo T~ribune.l
MARQUETTE, July II, 1866.
The train from Chicago on the 10Th
brouphta detachment of troops from Camp
Douglas en- route for the iron mining dis
trict of Lake Superior, where q strike had
occurred, and an outbreak was threatened
The steamer g. L Dunlap, bound for
Escanaba, was ready, and your correspond
amt embarked at Green Bay, with other
n-sssepgers and the boys in blue, eager for
the adventures Of any Northern wsIs
that might be encountered.
After ten hours delightful passage with
CAPTAIN TAYLOR and his obliging clerk Mr..
| Chsrd. we reached Escsnabs' aud were
quickly of on the Peninsula railroad for
Negsunee, sixty-three miles away, through
| the dresriest pine forests, blscksned by
fires and stunted cedar swamps. Goose
Lake. a lovely sheet Of water, q mile IN
length, and skirted by low lines OF we'll
wooded hills, was q relief to the eye. Ne
gsnnee Is the heart of the iron mining re-
zion. MI. Morry, the superintendent Of
the jackson mines, kindly furnished Capt.
Munich, Lieutenant Stewart and myself
with saddle horses, and q visit to the
neiehboring mines confirmed the report Of
the strike. Business Operations were al
most entirely suspended. We learnedthst
a similar strike occurred q year ago, when
the miners demanded that their wages
should be raised from $l.75 to $500 per
dsv. Several hundred marched down to
NS1ouette. thirteen miles distant, and com
PEELED the stoppsge of sill work in shipping
ore from the docks there. The United
States gunbost Michigan and troopl
from Detroit were sent to quell them
Their arrival, and the interest OF the
mining commsDies to continue WORK even
Al the increased wsges, put a stop to fur
Their difficulties at that time. During TIT
last winter 50 80 per day has been paid II
the mines, and the high price of iron, anc
great demand for it, made such wages JUS
tifsble. Now, however, the close OF the
war has greatly diminished the demand TO
iron, and May last wages were reduced Y
81. and on the LIST of July to 81 20. VI
the 10th of July the strike occurred, tn
lsborers demanding 81 per day, and onl!
eight hours work on Saturdays. This na'
not been scceded to save by one company
the Lake Angelina, although several haV
offered 81, but insist on ten hours work o
, SATURDAYS. Some laborers are disposed t
!, resume work, but fear the great body oil tn
miners, who, led by q few men, seem deter
. mined 10 dictate terms TO- the employers, G
TO stop all work.
A nesting of several hundred miners We
held the evening of our arrival at Negsu
nee, and an attempt was made to organic
a Mutual Aid Association TO enable all t
d stand out till the employers should ylel
i their point. The companies, however hsV
fau IL any eontrants to fill. and are III
liable to coercion. There are several fu
nsces in his region, but the most OF thel
J have already blown out, and the time ca
n be employed in rehtting. So matters al
at a stand still. The United States gu
boat Michigan at Marquette, and the trool
stationed st N~egsunee, will be likely to i
l. Meanwhile the Marquette Railroad, whit
depends almost solely upon the transport
=. ton of ore for its support, is suffering E
verely in the idleness Of its rolling stoc
d The whole affair is the result of the inevi
?, able depreciation of prices incident to Il
% close of the war. There has also been
Il lack of judicious combination and unsnin
" ity of sction on the part of the mini
PfvP-A annd understanding smol
70 themselves and the DETERMINATION or 49,
It of compensation Just and equitable to DO
At parties, and q firm adherence to thst dec
= sion, would have been better for all co
earned. The prices of board and prov
sions, also, have fallen in proportion to t
diminution Of wages. A little time will
1t required to regulate and properly ADJ
g. matters to their new relations. Aes
g. while, there is a general desire that q smi
garrison of troops remain in this region.