The New York herald., 1867-01-29
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COAL MINES
SPECIAL Correspondence or THE HERALD.

Strikes Ameug the Coal Diggers and Iron
Workers Of Pitfsburg-The Municipai Con-.
ssIidatien Questiou-A Free Railrsad Law
Dcmandcd-BorinG for OIL in shc Cesrs
House Yard. &c.
PnrsBuRa Pa, Jan. ~, 1867
Since my last letter Of the 25th quite excitemens
has been created hero from the fact that strike has
occurred among the coal dgge This system of s,rik-
ing has become almost chronic among the workers in
the coal mmes and when persisted In for any great
length OF time leads TO very percept,be increase in
the price Of fuel The iron workers. too In this vicinity
strike and, besides this business Of all kinds
is very DUH money 10 and collections from the
West como in at remarkably slow rata Previous to
the miners strike il estimated that about 70 600
operatives-men. women and children-were out Of
work and now between 1000 and 1900 moro are added
to the already formidable number OF iders Unless =
resumption Of labor takes place speedily there will
Of necessity be much suffering among the work. ing
clAsscs Those who will be most affected however,
the "helpers laborers who do the real In the
iron mines under the superntendence OF the middle
These latter make as heh Is 500 or $40 per dsy during
the busy season. and WILL in consequence, be able
stand ,ss %onsa n TeNs0a N anre ne STRIFE
I; lay up pa fund foi slack time. "a rainy day'' or
such contingencies this strike has created The mills
portion Of their focs rse coal eEsrs have 6ssn
ing out coal The drifts and at this rats Of coe-
sseon shey werc able average aboat - per DAY fbs
psos vus pasdoens large ncreass OVER that o s.ie
SsUrs timesss consequence q the rise IN me prc. of
xuld. end 0onccdcd 10 the digges when the rnr-
asS Sss Up oss sss sS
tAnk chat the eddiilonai percentage. swarded in
rsfc PrQportonsd 70 the advanced vaise Of specie.
should be deducted At the Gloss Of week. there
FORE they avowed their determination pay only three
cents ~ bnshsl to the digsers This led
termed 70 standng out' Of the msn. Who refuse tc~
labor until the advanced wages again Accord
In the iron trade The strike was insueur.sed bv IN.
spuddlsran The owners Of the works here aeee that
they have for some time past been paying 50 for pud
ding lots thai cost in Baltimore and other cities bnt
tors In those places to lay down iron the rough In
wthstandins the freight charges necessarily ncdsn 70,
the transportation Of the material How far this strike
win extend throsghout the State, how long the men
win bs able TO hold their refusal 10 resume work
are questions not yet easily determined There some
talk Of co conferences e bet.een the employers and the
the satisfaction OF both parties As Affairs stand
however arm determination appears to be evnced 90
eacn ac NOT 70 concede any OF the material points in
question which now excises the community here to-
City, which lies Immediately opposite Pittsbure across
the Allegheny river-a town OF about 10000 inhabI-
,ants-and Blrmnghsm which lies across the Mononsa-
he'a on the other sde In reality, only suburbs OF
Pstsburg and u s claimed by the "burgsrs' that alb
should come under one municipal government. % they
little favor however from the leading spirits Of either
SUBURBAN locality, and ID violently opposed by tho poll
tcans In all these places; but the people rapidly be-
coming educated TO its being necessity. A matters
Il pedestrian SIX cents In the way 6f toll
TO 20 from Allegheny City, through the heart Of tfsburg
proper, to Birmingham and return-a distance OF not
more than mle-the bridges over each river being
held by corporations who thus make money out OF the
constantly recurring necessities OF the residents OF the
city and suburbs Consolidating the three places would
the declaring OF those bridges free hgbwavs
and this what In generally needed here. Agitation Of
the question developing the beneficial results shat viii
from consoldatou, and before many eiapsc
clear majority OF those interested win. u Is thought,
be obtained in favor OF the measure. SEX -
zion Of tho Stss Legislature by prominene cxsns of
Piusbue The people here are very anxious 70 secure
the compaetiou f the proposed road frun MoConnos-
vs 70 Baltimore which. they contend wi break the
monopoly Of trade now n The hanaG u she PuunayI-
vania Central road, and csndaoe greatly - atfap
wealth Of this ssction q tie htate we abrS tie
means. now much desired, Of more facle comme
nienn0n With the Atlantic coast.
Not little sport Is had hero 1t times at the expenv
Of gentlemen from the rural oil regiona Who mnde
the viclims Of SELF by the younger portion of the
fun loving Pttsburgers Some time ago the City Council
decided TO tower for hre alarm bell, ana
tho site of the structure, u determined should b.
the yard OF the court house This tower presents every
appearances OF oil derrick and n representsd
The owners or olerRenous wells who visit the city Ths
has In consequence gone abroad ieso the yurat
districts that the Council has struck ev wiahin Dfty
feet OF the Judges bench, and Is running wcll On
city that Yields fabulous number Of bsrrols
fAy. and IN bringing IN an Immense revenue 10 the
The "pusrsrso anioy thla joke hnsem.