The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-30
CLOSING COAL MINES.

AN ovER-PRoDUcTIoE or COAL DEMON
sTRATED-AvoNDALE AND PLYMOUTH coll
LERIEs sToPpED-EFFEcr on THE PROSPECTS
or THE sTRIKR-THE CONDENSATION OF THE
MoNoPoLIsTs.
WILKEsDARRE Pa, May 90, 1875.
The coal business In this quarter presents a new
and some hat singular phase to-day. 1t has
been fully demonstrated that the Delaware Lack
awanna and Western Railroad Company and the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company are pro
d1cng more coal than can be conveniently
handled. To meet this embarrassment orders
have been issued TO stop the Avondale mine, OF
the former corporation and the Jersey colhery,
OF the latter, in Plymouth, tonight. THIS action
Will add 200 or 800 miners ana laporers TO the
great army or idlers in the wyoming
region ana tend materially TO increase
the depression and distress already exist
ing here. The announcement tnat more
coal Is being mined than can be disposed or will
have crushing effect upon the striking miners,
and prove TO them most conclusively that all
hopes OF the operators yielding last years wages
are futile. Some deem that the movement check
ing PRODUCTION by the great corporations alluded
10 Is significant OF an early resumptio OF work by
the men IN the Schuylki Lehigh and Wyoming
regions. This impression IS strengthened by the
fact that the Avondale and Jersey mines have
been furnishing coal for the Reading Company.
who recently discontinued their orders, prob
ably III view OF being able TO obtain
sufficient supplies from their own collierles.
Tne prospects OF the struggling miners, thel efore.
are becoming more ana more gloomy, and
their situation manlfesty more desperate. those
who have been sustained py the fancy that the
companies would be compelled, by force Of public
opinion and general demand for COAL to grant
more remuneratiye terms to their employees, now
see how memorable is the law which governs sup
PLY and demand and how idle have proved all
their dreams OF success. They also comprehend
that capital can afford to wait, while struggling
poverty sinks. little by little, beyond the powers
OF resistance. The men have simply been misled
ia regard to their own strength and the resources
or their opponents IN the present contest, and are
now satisfied that labor, Tor this time, must SO TO
the wall. 1t VIII be sheer 1dtocy on the
part OF the miners 10 maintain defiant
attitude much longer under an illusion that they
can iurce tnelr employers TO raise wages on all-
ing market. Efforts, however, are sim made 10
Keep ~ the deluslon that the men can yet carry
their points II they Will only keep together and
hold out longer. rms kind OF consolation IS iur-
nlshed by certain master Splits in the strike,
who nave become aware that their former post
tons IN the mines will be taken away wnen work
is resumed, and hence they desire TO hold on 70
promise viii or can be offered by the coal ope-
rators is rendered apparent oy the ARTICLES OF con-
federation when govern the combination OF mo-
nopoIsts. The agreement between the SIX great
coal producing and carrying companies plainly
maps out tue course 10 DC pursued Oy eacN ana
designates the amount OF coal to be mined by each
during tue present year. NO member oil the com
binatlon daTes violate any provisions or the COM
pact and hence there Is not the slightest pros
pect that any concession Will be made rom the
terms fixed upon by the monopolists last Deem
Der.
COMBINATION oP THE COMPANIES
The companies which have been at work under
the reduction from last years wages 10 the
miners only carry out their part OF the general
programme, and when their quota or coal has
been mined the Pennsylvania Coal Company,
Delaware, Lackawanna and western Railroad
Company, and the Delaware ana Hudson Canal
Company, having coal enough Tor their customers.
viii take on q season OF suspension and leave
their employees out in the colo. the stoppage
or the Plymouth mine u Is believed, Will have the
eject to hasten resumption In the mines OF the
Lenigh and Nilkesoarre Coal Company, and lead
10 a general commencement OF work Ia the regions
now Idle, 10 supply parties who regularly obtain
coal from those sections. MI. Charles Parrish has
promised hts men steady WORK for the remainder
OF the year. but declares also that 'ff work not
begun until the LIST or August the company
can readily furnish all the coal needed by their
customers. Thirty days steady work Will bring
the company 10 the stocking point and MIR.
George Parrish, superintendent OF the company,
has been instructed 70 nave the stocking places
ready for services, 10 meet any emergency which
may arise after the men 90 into the mines. Inc
general impression sim IL that that event Is very
hun