The New York herald., 1871-03-16
THE COAL MINERS STRIKE.

The Strike Extending to the Bituminous
ReRiOn-BrinRing q Railroad Company
to Terms-Opcrar0rs Observation-Disclosures
Mines In Operation.
MAHANOY CITY, Pa, Marcn Is, 1871.
1t Is rumored that the miners OF the bltuminous
region, out OF sympathy for the anthracite miners,
have resolved to suspend work in few days. The
buminous coal fields extend from Pittsburg west,
through the Chenango Valley and employ 10000
miners.
The State Council OF the Miners Union will meet
delegates from the bituminous region on Friday
next AZ Johnstown. when the question will be de-
fnitely settled.
The Lehign Valley and other railroads are now
using bltumnous coal. should these miners suspend
the railroads would be deprived OF their supply,
and to save themselves would be forced to COM
promise and lower their tolls, so that operators VINO
desire might again resume work on the OLD basis.
barre-who proposed to commence Operations To-
morrow, thinking their charter with the railroads
rates. have been forced to succumb. IL seems the
railroads had the best OF them in the cnarter.
for a week past. They pay their miners the basis
OF ls69-fve dollars and So SO extra, making the
rate 81 So
The Legislative InvestigatiOn of the Charges
Preferred Against tn g Railroad Companies
Overchnrges PrOved-A Whitewashing Re.
port Expected.
HARRIS BURG, Pa, March 15, 1871.
The second session or the investigation bv the
Judiciary Committee OF the charges preferred
against railroads ana carrying companies be-
gan here to-day. Asa Packer, Franklin B.
Gowans, A. X. Storrs, Samuel Sloane,
Thomas Dickson, John BrisbIn and other leading
rail Dad kings and iron manufacturers appeared to
defend their interests while James Keay, President
OF the Workingmen'5 Benevolent Association John
Siney William Waters and other prominent leaders
of the Workingmen's Benevolent Association were
present substantlate their charges None but ope-
rators and railroad men have been examined thus
far.
Robert Lamberton, OF this city, represents the
carrying companies ana Lewis Hall conducts the
proceedings Tor the miners. Hall has given up the
idea Of forcing the companies to lower their raes Of
toll. Gowans' ably conducted defence OF the Read
ing Company has saved that road, but Hall expects
TO break the charter Of the ehigh Valley and Lacka
wanna and Bloomsbury railroads. He CLAIMS that
he has positive evidence tnat they have violated
their charters m this as well as in former instances.
The evidence tonight showed that, with the ex-
pany, all the great carrying companies had in
creased their tolls to an enormous and unDrece-
have received no offers from outside parties and,
with the exception OF an occasional invoice
carried no coal except for themselves.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and western Railroad
hundred tons per week. at rate OF four cents per
mile per ton. All the rest OF the business, lnvOlv-
Ing from 100000 TO 2OO,OOO tons per month, being
from their own coeres, paid i0r month in ad-
vance,
The Lackawanna and Bloomsbury had raised their
rates since the last strike to two dollars and
ty-fve cents per ton from all coerles to Northum-
berand, two dollars and fifty cents to Danvlle and
two dollars to other States. The toll sheets OF all
the companies were shown in evidence.
Furnace men and iron manufacturers added their
testimony against the railroads, and showed what
sums they had lost by being forced to suspend
operations from lack OF coal.
The investigation is at best a whitewashing affair.
and from present indications can but result the
defeat OF the miners. The miners are beginning 10
understand that instead OF the Legislature control
ling railroads the railroads control the Legislature.
The investigation promises to continue for an in
definite period. The session VIII be continued to-
morrow.