The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-01
Written for the ADVOCATE.
The Incubus Pressing on the Republic
THE GREAT COAL STRIKE IN pennsylvania.
~ Z. EDWARDS LEsTER.-Iv.

One the deepest wrongs yet committed,
knowingly or unknOwingly, BY the Amer
lean press, has been in disappearing the
cause Of TIE miners strike in the Anthra-
cite coal region Of Pennsylvania, or in not
representing it at all
This great strike, although the most
Formidable that has yet existed in America,
has now been maintained for near y half a
wear. and this morning the end has not yet
come. TIE following | clip from a recent
ISSUE &c tie New York Herald
The reports from the coal regions of
PENNSYLVANIA are not very conSoing, save
from PItston. where the miners have gone
ueaceably t. work In Scranton and that
neightorhUod tie situation is unchanged.
The men are determined and present a
threatening front, and were it not for the
presence Of the soldiers Of the State militia,
who are prepared for any emergency which
NAV arise, serious troubles might result
from the present differences between the two
parties Want Of food and plenty Of suf-
fering in the homes of the unfortunate work
men will shortly pring the miners to terms
This, and tits only, we apprebend, VII, be
the agency which Will end the Pennsylva-
MA coal miners troubles and patch up for
a time peace between the WOrkmen and
the coupani, :.
Patch up for a time God send that
it be " fjr time" and very short time at
that
The hour hls come when the facts Of the
case shovld be known. aud propose to give
them a. fully as | can in the brief space
which YOU are 50 good as to assign me in
the ADVOCATE. i it not strange that a
New Yorker must 20 to Chicago to plead
the cause of Independence for Labor il The
State Of Pcnn-l lvlnia
LET Us CONE To FACTS.
The Anthrac te coal fields Of PeunSyl-
vania embrace only about $50 square miles,
EeiiHes in three basins or fields, known as
the Southern az SchuylkIll the Middle or
Lehlgh, ana the Northern or Lackawanna.
1t has hitherto been supposed that this
region embraces all TIE Anthracite coal Of
pure cartoua eous, land consequently
no lylro1,uoas) in the world. But while
tis u a simple assumption, it does well
enough for tie time for all practical pur-
loses. These Pennsylvania coal fields
produced last year about 1000, 900 tons.
The chef outlets through which this
mass Of mined coal finds its way to markets
are: Tue : huyikill Canal and the Read
ing Raihold, from the s huyIkill fed.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, and Lebigh
Coal and Navigation Company, those Of the
Lehigh field.
The Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern Railroad, the Delaware and Hudson
Canal, ana tie PENNSYLVANIA Goa Compa-
ny's Railroad, and the Lehigh Valley
Railroad, are tic main outlets to TIE Lack
awanna field. These last named compa-
MES, 10, only control the outlets, but o,on
most Of The mines Of this Northern basin,
which produces nearly one halt Of all The
Anthracite coal Of the country.
Ia 1870 there was an over supply Of coal
On the market, to the extent Of half mil
lion tons, and the price was reduced to
nearly ia fair paying business" The Read
ing Railroad making net on its large and
catered stock, only about Il per cent.
the Lchigh Valley Railroad, about the
same tile Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company, about - the Delaware, Lack
awanna and Western, Z and the Penn
s,vana Coal Company, about p PET
cent! These figures vii not be disputed.
The price Of outside common labor was,
On the aver ge, 81 30 per day for 0 bours
work The miner, work on the average
is not more than ~ days per month, Cnoi
through their faulD but owing 70 the un.
avodatle den'cntons inc'do ntito this KIND
q business. other laror was Paid dlller-
ent prices, owing 70 nc d'Eree q skilI,
danger, &c. But Sl,3O Is more than the
prices lad dd average .1r able bodied IN
sAlIied labor; ami tas "'r0ys ToJA"g on
short time.
in order TO produce a sIsi e, sion of work
and clear tile market ot tui, surplu. a.
the three great coal m5nopolics 9th Lack
awanua region Cthe Delaware and HUDSON
Canal o. tile Pcuu-y yuna Coal %.
and tie Delaware. Lackawanna and West
ern Railroad Co. n notified their miner.
and lab rer@ thai, q and after thu 1t q
December, $50, there would tie leduc
ton ~ TIE lrce q eacn KIND o. labor q 1
sum which, On the average equaIrd abou
80 per cent
This enormous reduction Was named am