The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-06
CITY N q n.
THE COAL TRADE.
The Resumptisn-The Condition of the Miners
Tho market-Prices, Quotations, Etc.

Tho mathet-PriCes, QuOtati0ns, BtC.
The miners of Schuylkill have generally re-
sumed work during the past week, some col
lieries commencing on Monday, some on Tues
day, and some on Thursday. The basis, of
course, is the new one just agreed upon, with
the sliding scale downwards as well as upwards,
excepting a slight alteration in the clause for
the equalization of contract work, which was
demanded by the miners of some Of the collieries
and conceded by the operators. No one, even
those most directly benefited, can blame them
for Directing to such an unjust rule as that
which their leaders have placed upon them. 1t
cannot he believed that this is a spontaneous
offer of the men made with certain ends in
view. Those who uphold the action of the
rulers of the w. b. A. in this only show either
their great foolishness, or that they are too lazy
to do a large amount OF contract work. Ger
tainly the best mes, who are able and willing to
do the largest amount of work, and so make the
most money, would never consent to it. But
perhaps, as has been suggested, the whole thing
was merely q sop thrown to the operators to
keep them quiet and get the collieries started,
it being intended to oppose it afterward. But
as it is understood that some have resumed
without making such opposition, they should
take fair warning that If they agree to 1t at once
they agree to it for good, and should the opera
tors wish to hold them to it, they would have
just cause for doing so.
The present condition of some of the miners
in pecuniary prosperity after the long strike
is said to be pitiable in the extreme. Id
this be so, we hope that they have had enough
of unions. If every man who has been injured
by the false government of the rulers of the
W. b. A., or who has beeu compelled to stop
work against his own inclination, would imme-
diately cut loose from all connection with the
association, regardless for the time being of the
name of 'blackleg," there is very little doubt
but that a comparatively small and certainly
powerless remnant would be left to uphold the
unjust commands of the organization. With so
many 'blacklegs' the name would cease to be a
reproach and become an honor, and all who
were otherwise would be regarded with suspi-
cion. We doubt not but that sufficient employ
ment could be found, Notwithstanding the OPP
posing edicts of the union.
Then if anything does not suit the
miners, if wages go below a
living rate, let them stop work individually or
collectively, but not strike in the trade-union
sense, or leave the trade for more profitable
employment until a sufficient number only re-
main to produce a higher rate. By such a
course Of action they would be regarded as
honorable men, and their demands would in all
probability be complied with. But let us have
no more of rkm unions, with regulations
for forcing any price unjust or otherwise upon
the market, no more organized strikes for fam
cied or trivial wrongs, which always result to
the injury of the strikers in the end.
The strike of the Lehigh miners against the
lehigh Coal and Navigation Company has been
. concluded by one of the most signal failures to
be found anywhere in the history of mining.
The men have not gained one single point by
their long season of idleness, and have been
compelled to resume work on exactly the same
terms which were offered to them by the COM
pany in the first place. This, though not very
satisfactory to the Lehigh meu, will teach them
q lesson. But the most beneficial results will
flow from the example set the Schuylkil men,
who, without the dissatisfied feelings of those ia
Lehigh, which may result in another strike of
some sort before very long, will feel more forct-
bly, the great risk of success attending such
movements, and the great loss on all sides which
always accompanies them.
There is said to be a good deal of hard feeling
occasioned by the closing of the shipping points
of Port Carbon and Mount Carbon, on the
Schuylkil Canal, by the Reading Railroad, and
the removal of the business to Schuylklll Haven;
but there appears to be no remedy in the mat
ter, as the Reading Railroad is perfectly strong
enough at the present time in that particular to
do as they like.
The returns of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad for the past week, published yesterday,
show that already the effect OF the resumption
j. beginning to be made manifest by the in
creased production and the amount shipped.
At Mauch Chunk during the past week there
were shipped over the Lehigh Valley and LIE
high and Susquehanna Railroads and the cana
11S, 250'0S tons, against 104, 65S 04 tons the pre-
vious week, an increase of 13, 592 "a tons. Tit
shipments for the corresponding week last yea
were l3l, 9470 3 tons, q decrease for the week o
1870 of 13, 696'15 tons.
The Philadelphia market is active and ther
is good demand. This is in part owing to TIT
low rates of freights to coast points, which will
probably be advanced in a short time. The fol
lowing are the current rates of freights from
Port Richmond for the week ending August 81
Boston, s2@215; Newburyport, s21O; Province
uowD, 1925; Salem, s2@215; Somerset, 81 IS; Wey
mouth, 50; Providence, sl'75@1S5; Aliens Point
s1'756l'S 80; Norwalk, S1'75; Greenport, s1'60; NeV
YORK, s120@1.9O; From Baltimore philadelphia
Sl@1 05; New York, s1S591'90.
The following are the prices of coal by tn
cargo at Port Richmond for shipments east O
Bordeutown and south of Cape Henry; to othe
points rates are forty cents per ton higher
Schuylkill Red Ash, s4'5094'75; do. Steamboat
s450@460; do. Broken, S4'5O94IO; do. Egg, $780,
Shenandoah Steamboat, S4'76; do. Broken, 81 rs; Dc
Egg, s475; do. Stove, $40; do. Chestnut. 81.
THE ~GERMANTowN BATH.-As regards publ
baths the people of Germantown are ia earnest
The work of enclosing the place selected, Ke
ley's dam, so as to exclude it from public obseI
walton, was commenced on Monday last.
board fence, eight feet high, encloses the cas-
ern boundary of the dam, and the entrance t
the dam will be from Magnolia avenue. A sma
enclosure, of shallow depth, has been set apal
for those who cannot swim, or who are afraid
venture into deep water. In order to build thl
enclosure, IL was necessary that the dam shoul
be drained, and 1t was accordingly done O
Monday last. After the drainage the flood gat
did not work properly, and ii was with grea
difficulty that it was closed, and the reflling @
the dam is much DELAYED in consequence. Uu
less there should be rain the dam will not fill f
two or three days. However we are given
understand that bathers will be admitted t
morrow. Five cents Is the price of admission
FIRE ON SOUTH FIFTH STREET.-About l.
o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the col
mandatory of George NJ. Fried, No. 237 Sou
Fifth street. The buildings were a two-and
half-story frame, front, and a two-story brick
the rear. The fire originated in the latter al
gained considerable Roadway. A great deal
damage was also done the stock and machines
by water. The buildings are owned by NJ
Fried and are insured for $l10O, and the stoC
and machinery for {, 1000. in the Pennsylvan
and American Insurance Companies, which W
more than cover his loss. The tavern of Jol
Wharton. No. 235. was injured To the extent