The New York herald., 1871-02-26
THE COAL QUESTION.
Negotiations Between the Miners
and Operators.
The WOrkingmrR'S Offer for the Relief Of the
Poor Of New York and Philadelphia.
APPAEHEkDED 0UTRAGeS BY THE MINER s


PoTTsvILLE, Pa, Feb. %, 1871.
"A committee from the Worklngmens Benevolent
Association met a committee OF the Anthracite
Board OF Trade at this place this morning. The
committee or the miners absolutely refused to accept
any ything lower than O three dollar basis. That now
offered, two dollar and half basis, was unani-
mously accepted last November by the miners, and
II Is matter OF surprise that they refuse those
terms.
The following private despatch was received here
at eight O'Clock this evening
MAHANOY CITY, Feb. 25 1871.
AT general meeting uf Mahanoy DistT1ct, NO.
8, Workingmen's Benevolent ASSOCIATION. held this
day, 1t was resolved That we, miners and laborers
OF The district hearing that the poor or the clElcS
OF New York aud PhiiaaelDnia are suffer
ing ior the want OF coal, Will give one
or two days labor in the mines Tree
gratis for the purpose OF supplying coal Tor their
give the use OF the coerles and the rail road CON-
THE DISTRICT COMMIfrEE
1t Will be seen at how absurd the above ofrer
is The great expense incident on starting q coal
mine In operation, and for two days only, utterly
precudes the possibility OF the offer being ac-
Cepted.
Another meeting OF woralngmen will be held TO-
morrow. ana still another Monday, in regard TO
accepting the So so basis II Is believed IN well
formed circles that snc miners Will eventually
accept the terms offered.
There are grave fears here OF outrages by the
miners. They have threatened to throw trains or
the track OF the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.
One day this week iiog plugged by stick OF
WOOD, but it was fortunately discovered in lime to
prevent an accident. The Reading company have
about sixty bridges within radius OF twenty miles
OF Pottsve. Guards are stationed all these
bridges constantly, TO prevent any attempt at de-
struCton by the miners. A locomotive, carrying an
armed guard, is constantly patroling the road above
this place, and every precaution is being taken 10
guard against ou RACES by the nfuriated Miners
who have sworn TO be revenged Tor the doubling OF
tolls on this road. Some Of them have threatened
to saw the strngers OF the bridges nearly through
from the under side and trust to tram breaking
through when passing over the bridge
bartholomew O'Reagan, old employG OF the
Reading Railroad, was Instantly killed this morning
while going to his work by being run
Interview with Mr.. GOwen, President Of tho
Reading Railroad Company-Why the Tells
Were Jncre. scd-AIincrs' Wages and Asso-
Citations.
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 25, 1871.
The coal question is rapidly assuming q graver
aspect. As no signs OF resumption have yet mani
tested themselves people are beginning to ask how
long they to remain at the mercy OF opera.
tors and infamous combinations. A HERALD re-
porter called at the office OF the Reading Ralroad
Company this morning Tor the purpose OF pro-
curing the latest news In regard to the great
strike. MIR. Gowen, the PRESIDENT, and the
gentleman who has been al the head OF all the late
meetings OF the coal operators manifested desire
to give for publication III the HEaALD the leading
points IN the controversy, and, in act. sad he had
intended to Write 10 the HERALD the subject, but
W, IN inv In
controversy. The following interview took place
between your representative and Mr. Gowen:-
REgoRTER-Mr. Gowen, | have called to learn
from your lips the reasons OF the advance In tolls
over your road, II you will give the information;
also to the present aspects or the coal srlkc and
prospects for resumption.
Mr.. G0wEN--Ceralnly. In the first place the
Reading Railroad Company nave always carried
over their road $4,000 tons OF coal per week ana
the canal about So 000 Since tile strike has been
in operation the supply dwindied down to about
1900 tons per week on both railroad aid canal
Well. our expenses have been nearly the same and
our receipts much less than formerly To save our
road from running behind we were forced to raise
the tolls.
REPoRTER-The impression seems TO prevail that
il was done TO keen out the minor operators until
the combination or Leading operators had the miners
brought TO terms.
Mr.. GOWEN--J Know tIlGt impression prevails. It
is erroneous. 1t Of course had a tendency TO keen
the minor operators from bringing coal TO market;
yet IT was not done on thai account We would
have raised the rate all the same. Had these opera.
tors, however furnished enough coal for trarsporsa
ton pay the rates would not have been raised
RErORTER-Is the Reading Railroad interested In
mining operations In fine, does this corporation
work In conjunction with the operators or are its
managers owners OF mlnes2
Mr.. GOwEN very emphaticaily)-It is not. We
are not interested in mining, except indirectly we
own coal lands tnat are rented operators; that's
all.
MINERS WAGES
REPoRTER-Mr Gowen, believe there Is an I'm
preston abroad that miners many lnstanc ca
work by the week. thnk Mr. Siney a leading
MINER maintained that miners could make bur
twelve dollars per week. What are The facts, so far
rs you knoW2
Mr. GowEN-Ths is a mistake. There are some |
few laboreia ana superannuated miners that work |
BY the week. Miners who work under the ground /
work almost invariably by contract. The wages
now ofe{ed miners ore almost Identical With th,t;e
received under the "G6WehN C0f1pfUfnise during
the four latter months OF 1870 The follow ing tap
WI. show the average earnings per day for miners
working by contract. VIII take as an exhibit or
tac whole five mines as follows. You viii under
stand thai this l. the net amount Of wages aer all
deductions are made af
= s'f.2 1ugust. September october.
First coefy.. 81 90 s47 S44
Second colllery.. 8 20 393 05
Tnlru coliIery......... 50 Az Az
Fourth colllefy......... 55 3 Al AZ
filtn GOLFERS. f.......... u i9 lO
UNDER THE WAGES NOW OFFERED
the men the same amounts cln be earned, when
coal IS at The same price IL was III those montas,