The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-11-01
Co-Operative Coal Mining.

The London correspondent Of the Man
hester GUARDIAN, under date Of October
9th, writes as follows
II hear that the CO operative movement
is looking up in quarters where, If it once
takes root. IL will be sure to spread. At
the present moment there is much activity
among trade unionists and co-operators,
aud they are discussing project for the
cooperative working Of coal mines on a
large scale. The cooperative idea has
been spreading for some time amongst the
Golfers. Their or EXAMINATIONS are power
full, and they have an abundant command
of funds They begin to think that they
can work their own mines, and add the
profit Of trade, OF a portion Of It, TO that
Of lbur and that their desire in this di-
rection may take effect, the leading coop
orators al the metropolis, well as Of the
north II England. have volunteered to
work in harmony with them. This idea,
50 far as London is concerned, will be
greatly helped by recollecting the cost Of
coal last winter The Amalgamated So
ciety Of Miners, VI, 900 strong, whose half
yearly conference commences on the 18th.
at Bristol, are To consider and decide on
these questions with 3 view to immediate
action whilst the members Of the Miners
National Association, q distinct body,
100, 900 strong, have already expressed
themselves as favorably inclined towards
it, The plan will very likely be to organ
ice a great association Of coal consumers
in London, which will draw its supplies
from the cooperative pits and pits with
which contracts may be made, and thus,
~ ,,,tnal ,n1arufa n1iuU hafuaan rr,-
ducers and consumers, q supply Of coal
will be secured for the metropolis not sub
ject to wild speculative fluctuations. Such
at least, is the idea in its present state,
and 1t is intended, on an early day, to hold
public meeting in London, at some large
central hall, for the purpose IF explaining
the project and taking the opinion Of the
people Of London upon it.
The same correspondent, in referring to
the growth Of cooperative enterprises in
the metropolis, says
another large cooperative society is to
be opened at the West End Of London.
The Combined Services Store has found
local habitation in Cockspur street, nearly
opposite to that part of 1t which has, by
the disloyal, been christened 'Pigtall Place,
with a sneer ut Wyatt's equestrian statue
Of George Ill. Since cooperative stores
have thriven SO well with the middle and
upper classes Of London, a marked change
has been worked upon those retail trades
of the metropolis, more especially of its
western parts, which find themselves very
hard driven by these dreadful societies.
An extensive and we'll known firm Of Ital-
ian ware -h0usemen, wine merchants and
grocers, volunteered, soon after the Hay
market stores opened, TO make reduc-
ton of 70 per cent. for cash from their or
binary prices Some Of our drapers have
advertised that all their goods are marked
in plain figures, and that l2t per cent.
will be taken off those prices to customers
who will take the vendors articles as at
Co operative stores Grocers and others
in most Of our large thoroughfares are
now found opening new establishments
under the guise Of their hated foes, the
co-operators. II il plain that cooperation
has met an extensive want in the metropO-
lis, where now, after seven or eight years
trial, it has struck its roots wide and
deep"