, 1874-12-29
THE COAL MINERS.
Prospects Of a Strike in the Lehigl,
and Sclluylllin Regions.
Special Dispatch to Thu C1ted1o Tribune.

| 1p(EEA@ 4(thpAtCH ~ 4Hd tHtcRHG 1FlQHM.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Dec. 28.-Just now thoro
arc rumoss rife concerning tho expected troubles
In the Lehigh and schuylkill coal regions, and
tho meeting OF tho operators on Wednesday il
looked forward to with moro than ordinary inter,
est. On their action depends tho annual query,
VIII thoro bo Btrko Tho miners havo a.
] ready announced their determination to oppose
any reduction of tho basis OF wages bolow what
they received during 1874. Tho operators bay
tho limited demand for coal will nccossitate ro-
duction OF tho priccs 80 conts por ton below what
thoy aro now receiving, and tue proposed lower
ing will Of course cause cutting down of tho
wages Of the minera.
Your correspondent called to-day as the Office
Of tho Secretary OF tho Reading Iron and Coal
Company, who arc tho largest operators in tho
country, and from mr. Foster loatnod that tho
corporation Which he ropresonts has under ita
control forty minoB and an 1ntercat in forty
moro. They employ III these about 1000 more
who would strike instantly If thero il any reduce
ton Of thoir wagea. Your correspondent asked
Mr. Fostor il he thought tho lowering OF tho
Mr. Foascr-1has Is question that cannot
bo determined. We cannot look ahoad and toll
what the demand wIll 10.
Correspondont-1n case Of d strike, il shcro
coal enough ct tho wharvos aud places OF ntosago
Mr: Fogter-Wo can go through throo-
months striko. Tho miners have done their
usual amount Of work tho past eoaaou, but tho
mild weather re hayo had 30 far Inns caused
falling off i'll the demand.
Correspondont-Will there DO riao In tho
prico Of coal in tho oyent OF strike 1?
Mr. Foster-Wo do not approhend any. I do
not think thoro will b.
Il Ia not improbable that wo arc on tho eve Of
great conflict between labor and capital in tho
coal-producing regions. Tho stock Of coal on
hand is sory large. and tho time for fixing tho
annual rhto on basia Of wagos ia at hand. The
philadelphia i Heading Coal and Iron Company,
which iH by far tha largeat mino OF coal ii tllo
schuylkil! region. Ia disposed to roduco tho
,Sorkingmen's wagoa, and at recent
m!Iootlng Of tho operators Of tho Lohigh
n x1s tln tbo tho nas Of ls
panies arc rosoluto In thor purpose and tho men
resist. as thoy ara suro to do, Hriko Ia iuoyta-
bic, ana atriko ut this time in this grea! in-
dustry will bo very aorous mattor. Tic basis,
ato to tho prico Of coal at Port Carbon tic groat
shipping depot Of 6ohuylhill County. 4 mini
mum price Of coal ID fixed (s2.5o has boon tho
price for tho laat for yoars), upon which tho
incroaso over this minimum tho mon receive 4
proportionato share. Under tho basis Of tho
laat thrco years. which It Is now proposed to rc-
a,e a1eo. tle miners eot III week, tho labororg
Inns averaged higher than tho minimum 1lxed,
tholr wages hayo been slightly higher but as
on IN average, and from ono CAUSE or another,
not Of their volition Qhoy work hui; cght
Of their wages is but; elig ghtly % III o1cess ssst'
il any, OF TINT paid common and
less hazardous labor in tho citios. Tho average
profit to tho mine ouerator on ton Of coal do
s2.4o being tho cost Of tlo coal at tho point
whoro it ia sold, or delivered to tho railroad
company for shipment to tido-water. The prjco
at Port Carbon for tho past month averaged