New-York tribune., 1877-09-15
ARTILLERY AT UCH CHUNK.
AN UNUSUAL SCENE.

MORE OF THE ARMY THAN WAS VISIBLE IN TIE
SOUTH DURING THE LAST FOUR YEARS-CHAR-
ACIER OF THE PLACE-wHY THE MILITARY ARE
KEPT THERE-COAL INTERESTS
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNE.l
MAUCH CHUNK, Sept. Ill have more of
the United States Army during the twenty-fOur
hours since my arrival in Mauch Chunk than saw
of it in the South during the last four years of Presi
dent Grants Administration. The truth Is that no
unnecessary display of military force made,
when troops sent into the Southern States
either to hunt down Ku Klux, the peace at
elections or to back up State Governments that
were too weak to stand alone. 1t was never com
mon sight to see soldiers on the streets of New-Or-
leans, and even the officers lived mostly by them
selves, and rarely mingled with the crowd that
nightly gathers in the corridors of the st. Charles
Hotel to talk politics and discuss the crops.
The New-Oreans Custom House full of soldiers
last November and December but very few
of them at any time upon the streets, and
during the four weeks required for counting the
vote of the State, it is doubtful If any member OF
the visiting committees ever heard the roll OF a
drum or the call of buge, and it is certain that
there were public dress-paraGes or street drills.
In 1874 the troops that sent to Alabama were,
in most instances, encamped on the outskirts OF the
towns. and rarely far from their quarters
Wherever the army has been used for political pur-
poses. whether legitimatey or not. the officers have
generally felt that their presence was not welcome
to a very large class of the citizens and their self
respect as well their regard for the feelings Of the
people among whom they were required TO serve,
caused them with exceptions, to perform their
duties rs quietly and unobtrusively as possible.
1t is indeed a novel sight, as strolls through
the single winding street of this quiet little noun
tain town Quiet but for the ceasecss rattle of the
coal trains on two railroads. to see here and there
sentry in the uniform OF the United States Army
pacing TO and fro upon the sidewalk before build
ing temporarily converted into a barrack. Eight
or nine companies of the 1st.. I'd, and 3D. Artll-
lery have been here for the past month. Headquar-
ters are at the Mansion House, where twenty-five or
thirty commissioned officers quartered. many OF
them accompanied by their families. The guests of
the hotel are awakened in the morning 10y the bugle
calls, and there are guard mounting. drills in the
Streets hops and excursions for the service heTe has
not been arduous.
NO disorder has occurred or has been apprehend-
ed, here at Mauch Chunk. and the soldiers have
been stationed here simp account of the stra-
teg1c importance of the place. There are no collier
les in tins town, within five miles of 1T, but this
is the shipping point for considerable portion of
the Lehigh region, with every part of which 1T has
direct communication. Troops could also be moved
hence at moments notice. in case of necessity, to
Chunk is therefore, in military sense, the key to
large part Of the anthracite coal region, and that is
why the soldiers are here.
Mauch Chunk though not itself mining town,
is the headquarters Of great number of coal Ope-
rators and s therefore, Of the best places in the
whole coal regions in which to obtain information
in regard to the business of coal mining the cost,
production etc. Prices of labor in the whole Le-
high Valley are fixed here and as the cost of moving
coal from this place to all Of the shipping ports is
the same the profits or losses from mining may be
said to depend upon the price of coal here Before
entering In detail into consideration OF the many
probems which collectively constitute the " Labor
Question in the coal regions, as will be done IN
subsequent letters, word or two OF explanation
may be of value to those readers OF IHE tribune
who are not familiar with the subject. The mining
companies Of the Anthracite Coal Regions may be
divided into three classes They are, hrst, Taii-
road companies which own mines, ana Whleh DOth
produce coal and transport IT; second, companies
or individuals who coal lands and carry on the
business of mining, but do not transport the coal
they take out third, operators, who neither own
the mines they work, nor the means OF transporta-
ton. - >, i, -,
Previous to August 1876, nearly all OF the COLI
cries in the anthracite region were worked under
combination, the object OF which was 10 contrOl tue
prIce of coal by limiting the supply few Ope-
ra.Ors never entered this combination, and some OF
those who did accused OF violating It's condl-
tions. The breaking OF the combination mas put ths
price of coal during the last year, entirely beyond
the control of the producers except that the largest
of the have been able to depress IT by sales OF ex
fraordinary magnitude. The low price OF coal that
has continued during the most OF the present year
has caused repeated reductions IN the wages OF the
miners and laborers and this, combined WIN an en-
forced idleness during part OF the lrne, has caused
the discomfort and led to the strikes. The nature
and extent of these strikes the provoc alton OF the
miners and the defence of the coal operators, the
question of wages and the cost OF producing COAL
vii be subjects to be treated of i'll future letters.
z.L.w.