New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-24
STORIES OF MINERS OUTRAGES DE-
MED.

STORIES OF ORGANIZED LAwLEssNEss SAID TO BH
WHOLLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TALES OF THU
MOLLY MAGUIREs "-PREsENT GLOOMY OUT
LOOK OF THE COAL TRADE-PROsPECT OF A
REDUCTION OF WAGES.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNEf
READING, Penn, Nov. 21.-I have just re-
turned from a long trip through the coal country,
whittier had been attracted by the startling aud incen-
diary reports relative the alleged serious riots, out
breaks aud murders in the Schuylk and Luzerne dis
tricts. In nearly every instance 1 found that tho
printed accounts grossly exaggerated having no
resemblance whatever to truth In aconyersaon with
leading citizen OF Pottsville the famous coal capital
OF Scbuyki the reply to the effect that there was
little doubt that in Schuylk County there were mel OF
lawess disposition, who when under the influence OF
liquor would not hesitate to shed the blood OF their
fellow but in county wild and mountainous az
schuykil in region where the Inhabitants arc so ocat-
tered where there many liquor shops, and where
the police powers limited Is rather TO od
wondered why there is not more crime than there s'
found that all this Molly Mcguire" sensationaism Is
purely imaginary. The dle shiftess people VINO nave
been Molly Maguires are not organized in bands
and while they may have committed depredatioDs,
their work not startling than the ordinary police
cases generally found the dockets OF any alderman In
the larger cities. The trouble Is not Molly Mcguire
affair all The disputes, such as have been common
in these parts for many years, arise principally from
disagreement betWeen the operators ana lnen IN
the Luzerne districts prices have been reduced for nj
ming and tho men resolved strike. few miners de-
sired to work reduced rates rather than remain
idle but they were harrassed inundated and prevented
This led TO bloodshed but as thework has been
stopped altogether II is probable that all disturbances
of this nature will cease.
This morning the Philadelphia Coal and Iron Com
pany. a branch Of the Philadelphia aud Reading Kali
road Company were compelled to issue orders stopping
off no K
ception of ten the Schuylk regions Tnis will be
bad news the coal regions throws out or EN-
ployment many hundreds OF miners. The Company's
reason that the coal market at tide water Is over
aud that trade Is very dull This is TACT Tho
iron trade is yet feess and the outlook gloomy and
forebodug Ths latter industry is the great consumer
OF coal and when fails the coal trade fails railroad
shipments fall Off and q general panic IN pennsylvania
ensues One dependent on the Other ana tue last 10
feel are miners IN the coal regions And when they
do the customary stories OF blood ana murder are
written out and forwarded for publication Up to this
writing nothing serious actually occurred but what
the recent wholesale Suspension OF WORK III inc mines
NAV bring about 10 is difficult TO foretell
The present outlook for the entire coal and iron coun-
try u not of the encouraging KIND The newspa-
pers are counseling the workngmen TO practice the
strictest economy FORCES. furnaces rolling mills and
factories giving employment only to few men. The
Reading Railroad Company. comprising an Eastern
Pennsylyanil, has its mammoth shops In Reading ana
ali along the line almost empty from the TACT that trade
is too dun to allow any more improvements elmer on
old or new work Their immense coal depots at Port
Richmond banked up high with Iuei Whi.n tney say
cite regions OF scuylk for the last week were 1864
against lio22 for the corresponding week last YEAR
increase, IS 49, tons The supply sent rom al regions
last week 4G5933 tons anthracite and 81 s3l tons
btuminous. all 5264 tons against 47S6l tons for the
corresponding week last year; increase this year
for the week. $500 tons The supply sent from all
the regions far this year is ls.7sGi2 TONS against
2OC6SG27 tons to corresponding week last year; de-
far this year. soo3 TONS or which ssioo3 tons
are anthracite Anthracite coal higher now than II has
been at any other period the present year. The trade
for the schuyk regions has been on the increase quite
, orod ~ Iast wear There "a no change TO note in
tho markets the demand being connned ehtreH 70 re-
wall until the major portion Of stock on hand sold
seems be the idea OF the and X Coa ana iron Com
until President Gowen sees trade suncehty revived W
warrant q resumption, there will be very little mining
done I'm the Schulkill regions.
The question OF basis 1875 is already receiving
sq trouble ahead and has
the OF general suspension iu order T. prepare the
Committee OF che ", A. aTr pgoPSsia
the muers Joined together IN secret organIa-
over which for long time reigned Johu siney. Com
mittee from the W. H. A. come before Committee
nuesons of pay aud wages settled by arbitration.
leading capitalist OF the region told me that reduc
ton OF the minimum OF the basis for 1875 was looked
forward to as Inevitable and that the the matter
looked into the face aud met by all parties the better
This might caused trouble In the regions had work
a the mines continued but the recent order cuts OF
hundreds OF miners II be that the the Of the
Company when the basis Is arranged will be com
piled with without hesitancy or complaint. These are
tine substantial questions that are to-day being
considered by tho thinking men OF the
mines. aud IL easily be imagined how these shock
Ing Stories Wild aud exciting they are wrong aud
inhammatory. discourage and insult those who are
laborng hard for the best interests Of the miner The
present limited troubles are opy the dongs OF few
who with starvation staring them In the lace arg
arraying themselves against decrease OF wages and
melting others great majority OF the men 10
the regions willing TO work at the reduced pay. pus
SO far have been and III few threat
and prevented All this described conflict OF assA
aud outlaws and the wordpainthg OF murders sno
riots Is untrue 1t viii not be long before the rev as
lurbances are Quelled and the regions again enscas
although there Is only gloomy outlook DOW fos uinos
aud trade for the present Winter
-, LII <;Na voatardav and