, 1874-06-22

tHer own at BfAtuHQou. 1t 1B tile cuHtom OF
these companies to mako q contract with tho
miners on tho 1rnt Of every juno; fixing
tie prieo, pcr ton which tho mfnera
are to rocelve during tho ensuing year
Tor taking out tho coal. At tho
last Of 11ay, tho companies gave notice that
thoro would be ohapgo In prices. They hal
been paying s1.25 ton for mining, with an al
lbwanco Of oenta ton for pushing for oycry
fifty yards after tho first fifty yards.
Tho NOW tdrmB proposed by tho COM
pGaniea wero s1.10 per, ton for mining, and
centa ton for pushing for every one hundred
yards after tho frat one hundred yards, for
which nothing WAS to be pnid. Tho companies
claim that this change would lower total cost Of
mining tholr coal from e1.50 pcr ton to $3.50
por ton. Tho tninorB claim TINT 1t would roduco
their wagos about 25 cents por ton. Tic conf
panica claim that they cannot r1ora to pay moro
than they offer, and Ind better suspend work
than to run at a loss. Tho minora olaim that
they cannot I've ut the rates proposed, and: had
bettor not work at all than to work at thoso
prices. And hore ia tho doad-look. -.
Tho difference betwoon tho companies and tho
minors ro1ates to the pushing Of the cara in tho
mine aud the toeping ct tho toalwaya cloar.
The difference is not readly uudorstood by an
outsider, but is not essential to an understand
Ing Of the main issue. Tho miners offered to
take out tho coal At 91.o5 a ton, or cents less
than tho companies proposed, If thu old rates
for pushing and keeping Tho roalways oloar were
retained. They arc now willing to tako out tho
coal for 81 D ton in tho clear, tho oom-
panics to do the pushing. eto. But tho
companies docltno to consider any OF
these propositions or, in tnot, to compromise On
any other basis than the terms thoy 1aye pro-
pissed. In this respeotth miners have certainly
shown fairer disposition than tho owners.
They have offered to compromise On graduated
scale Of prices, proportIonate to the price Of
coal. This proposition Is declined by tho COM
panies on the ground TINT they sell tho bulk Of
their conl to tho railroads md othor large GUS
tomors on contracts Of long standing. and TINT 1t
would be ruiuous to them to bo goyornod In
what they pay for mining By tho retail prlco
Of coal. But tho companies aoem to be most at
fault in their rejection Of q settlement by asbi-
tration, to which the minera arc ready to agroe.
Mclaughlin, tho President OF the Miners
Union ct Draidwood, Gays tins he is opposed to
strikes, but that, In this case, tho~e was no
alternative it the miners hoped to oarn living
wages. II tho minors are convinced OF this, tho
case Ia certainly one for arbitration; ind
as tloy cannot hope to control tho re-
suit OF III arbitration In their favor
il they do not deserve verdict, it is difficult to
perceive how tho companion can fairly decline
this offer, except on tho ground that tho mtnoa
bolong to them, and they will keep them In opera
tion or not us thoy 500 at.
Probably the true explanation Of the deadlock
ut Braidwood is, that both tho owners and tho
minors are vol prepared to hold out, md can
afford to indulge in tho luxury Of stoppage.
Somo porsous belioro that tho suspension OF
work Is scheme Of tho Wilmington Com
pany to gain oontrol OF the two small
or concorns. but II is moro likoly
that there ia u radical difference batween the
ovnors and minors as to what tho formor can af-
ford to pay, and that 1t wl1l not DO aottlcd until
ono Bldo or tho othor fools harder pressure than
now. These miuoB Aayo bocn worked for several
years without serious interruption, and tho minora
aso consequently In a better condition than auch
communities generally arc. Large numbcra own
their homestoa1s and 1avo laid up money. They
arc aa olaas Hober and Industrious, and live to-
gather anaicab1y. Thoy arc, therefore, prepared
to nurriyo the suspension OF work TOR eomo
timo to como. On tho other laud, the
companies have o largo amount Of coal mtno1,.
mud arc hopeful Of securing mon to work at their
own tcrmg, 80 that thoy aro disinclned to rive
way. 30 far thoro has boon no disturbance ut
Draidwooa. The companies Layo taken down
about loo now meu to 60 to work, but all Of
thoae, with two or thrco exceptions, have gone
away, rofnalng to work whon they heard tho
| minsrs' explanation Of tho situaton,-
the Minors Union paying tho oxponBos
Of tho newcomers to thoir homes. At
present there is no Indication that tho
minors will uso force to drive OF the man
tho oompanioa may employ. They arc certainly
inclined to DO poaooab1o. But who can toll what
time aud wunt may bring forth7 Hore are 1000
! rninora living Off ono another and from what
they have aayea. ThiH oannot be kopt up yory
| long. When their money is gone. whom tho
| supply stores rofuso credit. and whom hunger
comes. there may DO ditrorout scono presented
| at this now peaceful community. It is to
| bo hoped that e1reotual moasuros may
bo found to avcrt v'olonoo at all eyouta. II tho
companieR rofuso arbitration now thoy will not
10 entitled to appoal to arbitration hereafter.
of -
Nl hazards, tho responsibility Of hroaoh OF the
peace will be upon those who shall layo shown
tho most amicablo and reasonable dl9poaition
| previously.
OUR CROP REPORTS. - -
NO present this morning unusually full 70"
ports OF tho crop prospects, mainly In Illinois
o,a Toua raaervinp thu other Western 6tAteH