The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-20
A General Strike In the Coal Mines.
Correspondence Of the New York Herald !

PHLIPsBURG, Pa, November 1.-THE
entire mining region throughout Pennsylya-
mia is just now greatly agitated by reason
Of universal strike on the part of the
miners, who demand an increase Of ten cents
per ton over present rates. The miners are
now receiving seventy cents per ton, except
at the Derby Coal Company, where they
have been given sevepty-fve. The strike
was not unexpected. On the contrary; the
miners notified the operators about fort
night since that unless their demand for an
increase Of ten cents per ton was acceded to
they would quit work on the evening OF the
14th instant. And they Kept their word.
On the 18th the men refused to work at
the former rates, and as the operators agreed
among themselves not to yield to the strikers
every one Of the sixteen mines on this noun
tain stopped operations except the Derby.
The latter having, it is said, some large con-
tracts on hand, preferred to pay the extra
ten cents rather than stop work, and the
Derby mine is therefore being operated as,
usual. How long the strike will last it is
difficult to say. Some are Of opinion that
two weeks out Of employment viii bring
the men to terms. Others think the strike
viii be prolonged q month; but be the re-
suit what it will, the effect will be injurious
and pernicious in its consequences. at this
season Of the year all the mines are usually
Under contract for all the coal produced, and
any suspension of business, no matter for
how short period, cannot but he exceed
ingly detrimental to their interests. Even
if the advance in the price Of coal shall be US
| large as they anticipate by reason Of scarcity
Of the article, yet the time lost and the in
terest Of the money on the large capital in
vested will hardly countcrbalance cessa-
| ton of operations for fortnight or more. ;.
| The miners are the heaviest losers by the
strike. The price they are now being paid,
| of seventy cents per ton, is the largest
since the war. 1t was only last spring they
/ were advanced from sixty to seventy cents
per ton, and it is rs certain and positive as
| anything eau be that the operators are de-
! termined to resist the present strike at all
i hazards. They claim that the demand is I'M
| reasonable and unjust; that the miners
1 earnings average hundred dollars monthly;
| that they are already the best paid laboring
element in the country and that even if they
| desire to give the extra ten cents the margin
on coal is so small Mt present market rates that
| they could not actually afford to comply with
] the wishes Of the strikers without losing
| money. The miners of the "Mountain," as
| the region of bituminous coal is called. say
! that they have received orders to strike from
| the headquarters of their Union at Philadel-
phia, and that they have no alternative but
| to obey. / have also ascertained this eve
ming that in the anthracite region the
miners have struck, and q similar
movement has been inaugurated in
the coal mines of Maryland, Ohio, and
Illinois. There can be 10 doubt of the arl-
thenticity Of this report, as my intormants
are trustworthy and reliable. AT Tyrone,
where are located the scales for the Penn
svyania railroad the receipts for Saturday
only amounted to 1000 instead Of 5000 tons.
| which is the average coal weighed: there an
| transitu for eastern markets. The weigh
master at Tyrone tells me that on Monday he
only expects 800 tons, which will be pro-
duced by the Derby. From Pittsburgh we
! learn here that coal is exceedingly scarce. No
strike is reported at the mines in the vicinity
of Pittsburgh. although onejwill certainly
occur there early next week unless it took
place last night. OF course, Us this is purely
q mining and manufacturing region, the eX-
element in consequence Of the general strike
is intense. Miners are idle, and having been
lrecently paid of, are spending their time in
porter-houses and drinking more than is
good for them. ,-r.''.r. =
| It is impossible to secure men outside the
miners Union to work the deserted mines,
: ms a sanguinary LATHE would be fought be-
tween the union and non-union men, and
there is not force lagge enough to maintain
the peace or proteGg the non-uuion men
iagainst violence from the strikers. Hence
There is an era Of idleness in this usually
1 busy, active mining and manufacturing 10.
cality, The effect Of this strike on all branches
OF trade and commerce will soon be made
manifest. . -. fr a.aErD e. ii