The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-03
LIE Gal nIfREsr. |
seneral DeSfession-I ts causes7l
GomaraI kfrfke Threatened.

PLYMOUTH, Pa. July 30, 1874. 4
The great coal interest of the Northern
coal fields has never been so depressed as
at present. The larger portion of the
collieries in this immediate district Is
either entirely suspended or running on
reduced time. and hundreds OF industri-
GUS deserving miners are i'll consequence
suffering for lthsbare Necessities Of life.
Further up in the region, at Scran-
, ton, "Garbondalep and adjoining towns,
the picture Of Suffering is equally as
bad, if not worse. The condition. Of
things is far more distressing
than during the memorable "long
strike of 1870 H. 1t is estimat-
ed that between II, 600 and $1,000 GOLFERS
are now out of employment, and many
others soon will be, as several heavy ope-
rating companies arepreparlng to suspend
operators. The quantity Of anthracite
being shipped from this region Is greatly
below that usually transported at this
season of the year. While the miners
assert that the coinbinated producers are
blameable for the existing state OF affairs,
by forcing down production SO that the
Immense supply of coal at the various
depots be held, for speculative purposes,
wliichis, no doubt, true to some extent,
rs al advance on the wholesale prices
for August is announced, the figures
ranging from fifteen to twenty cents
on ton The operators state that the
cull,c of the reduction of production Is
that there is no market for coal, and no
probability of any profitable transactions
before september or October. As every
branch Of Industry depends, to'a larger
or smaller degree, upon the coal trade for
its support. the depression in mining
causes general stagnati"n. Merchants
complain that bankruptcy starcs them i'll
the face and pray for more prosperous
times. The miners, having become tired
of what they term the exactionS OF the
monopolistS. are restless, and some of the
more unreasonable spirits are urging II
strike.
LARGE MEETINGS ARE BEING HELD
under the auspices of the Miners MAJ
tional Union, Of which James o Halloran
is the president, in Luzerne county. and
an organization is being rapidly effected.
The laborers are also very much opposed
to the company store system, and
there is Il very strong movement now ON
the tapis to demolish the nuisance which
affects 50 seriously the interests of miners
and business men. The men employed
ut the Salem colliery, ShickShimny, are
on strike against All effort of the
operatives to destroy their branch of the
Miners National Uniou, and not for an
increase of wages, as has been re-
ported. The men receive S2.9o
per week from the union during
the continuance of the strike. The col
lcrS of Carbon Hill and Mount Pleasant,
Ashley. this town and other places are
enrolling themselves under the banner
of the National Union, and the prospect
of another struggle between labor and
mnnopoliStS is not bad. Should stand
out occur soon it will be Il determined
one. rs it is understood that the treasury Of
thcmion is well supplied with funds, and
the miners can be supported long time,
or until the accumulated coal will he 50
reduced that the operating companies
will allow all the rules and regulations
of the association To be- carried ont in the
region 50 that mining may be resumed.