The New York herald., 1878-08-15
A Visit to the Anthracite
Coal Mines.
FACTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED STRIKES
What the Workingmen Com
plain Or
COUNTER STATEMENTS BY TIE NINE OWNERS
Interview with Superin-
tendent.

PITTsroN Pa, August 13 1873.
Tho announcement that strike tnroughout the
anthracite coal districts would take place under GER
tain conditions the 10th inst. supported by the
active sympathy of railroad men, may have been pre-
mature, but that great dssaiis prevails among
that large laboring class Is that tho simple
statement quoted does not emphasize tho real con-
diton OF affairs.
''Tne discomfort amounts to a restessness that Is
developing of the greatest strkee the industries
Of the Valley has ever KNOWN remarked an old and
we'll informed miner TO the HERALD correspondent
He continued his remarks with much spirit
but tone and manner Indicating that
he respected the primary principles OF good govern
mcnt "Iho causes TOR this inquielude are OF such
nature that not hour passes when the subject is
not thrust upon the working mans mind in It's most
annoying aspects. Tho last reduction made In the
miners wages u little more than u year ago was as
sented to under protest, but upon the assurance OF
the company officials that 1t would enable them 10
compete with SchuylKi county producers ana assure
US miners and laDorers steady II not quite as remu
nerativo work.
PLEADING COMPANY.
cat meeting OF the miners last summer Mr.. Bry-
den, the under superintendent, addressed the men,
pleading earnestly for the interests OF his company
arguing with much spirit aud logic that tho
price OF coal A. that date would not justify tho con-
tnuanco OF mining operations unless the reduction
OF ten cents per ton to the miner made He
furthermore explained to the indignant and greatly
burdened workmen the almost irreparable injury
funded SO TO speak, Tor every Industry in tho country
TO hQudate. the prostration OF activeindustries by
protracted strike, and that their own families would
be sufferers many instances for even the ordinary
necessuries OF lite. In the latter proposition no
undoubtedly right. He furthermore referred his
poyes to the remarkably low price coal was quoted
at in the market, even undcr tho stimulating
agement of the coal combination that had witchey
| in the desire to enhance tho market value OF this
great product OF Pennsylvania. On July 1877, small
chcs.nu. coal sold at circular S2 70 for
240 pounds and stove coal at 81 Co. the highest sas
realized There were then, as now, very consider
able umber OF SOBER honest mon in tho
service OF the company who pau TOR reflection upon
the probable OF Us pension of montnlv
| payments. The reduction was hsird mandate to
submit TO- Reductions from time to time In the past
had been so great and frequent that tins would
| be pinching 10 all ana impoverishing to many. But
| upon due debsraon the men humbly accepted the
| terms and promises oil the company.
| THE MINERS OLD ORGANIZATION.
"fho old organization. having Tor object tho arbi-
trary power Of fixing The prcc at which coal be
| principles OF supply ana dca'and, WAS failure. A
| new combination has boon iouadeu upon the ruins OF
companies restricted but the seller may
own discretion with reierence to tue prce at which
no will dispose OF coal The result has been sal
utary. There has been an upward tendency In tho
market Tor months past until It mas reached 81 10
these figures IRON the coanpany's circular They
show Of IRON 81 05 70 81 80 above last years
pricos, when the above referred TO reduction in
miners wages made, and when the promise OF
tho company was gwen that tho wages should be re-
s0rod ~ full compensation as soon the pricc Of
coal would warrant IT, But the compapy has shown
disposition 10 iuhl the promises OF Mr.. Dryden TO
return To that basis. Bntths Is not all the have
good aud sufficient cause to complain OF. Tie new
policy OF the continuation In restricting the coinage
OF producers has reduced the number Of working
DAYS 10 an average OF one-half time, thus nrtner
gripping tho resources OF tho miner. In thousands
Of houses IN the coui regions absolute want Is the
CALLING fact that spurs tho poor man 10 invent
measure tor relie wne tho patcnt fact that the
papy has made good the promises OF snleriE-
tepdont Is tho singing reflection him table
Is no longer graced with else but the comnonest
food, and VINO has not tasted mouthui oi beef
The above Is the sentiment OF pretty much all Of
more intelligent miners On the other hand. the
poverty OF the inen and the almost universal failure
OF labor 10 coorce capital into tho argument
OF and other lavorites OF company against
making positive demand for an Increase OF wages.
Many ot these bosses aud superin ondonts have
in the employ OF tho company Tor years, aud have
earned the good viii OF their employers, and
cured considerable influence with the mon, aud tho
latter are to a consacrabls extent dependent upon
tho Tor the scanty loaf OF broad doai
ANornLR CAUSE OF DIssArisPAcTiox
Another cause OF tsfacuoD with the miners 10
that they are compelled TO their powder and
oil supplies direct IRON the company order to that
effect having been issued upward or two years ago,
gardins tue spirit OF the order must be prepared
accept dismissal from the company's employ. Tho
result Is that the mon nave never been sold keg
private parties have offered To contract IL Tor from
ninety cents to 81 per kos cheaper; aud as Tor OH,
now pays eiahty cents per gallon, when 1t can be
purchased at hfty cents. schuyikii county operat-
ors have reduced the price 10 their men from sew
euty i've to sixty cents per gallon. This Is not
small Item 1t amounts to u good many dollars u
month TO the steady worker
From conversations hnd with other miners than
tho one referred 10 above, II 10 evident TO your cor
ialod ut almost any moment by a wise or unwisc
action OF the New York officials with refer
ence 10 tho demand made by the miners' CON-
miitec upon the company Tor a return OF mo
ten cents per ton. i ieol satisnoi- however, that
should the company exhibit a disposition to eosnpro-
misc with the men by granting then. one hall Of
request tor an advance OF wages, and at the same
time reduce the prices OF powder anu oil TO the men,
thero would not DO further talk OF strike. No other
company can compete with tho PennsyvanIa Coal
Company so far as the economy OF production enters
INTO the question And u may also bc remarked right
nero that, comparatively speaking, they are out OF
doot ana eau Withstand LABOR without Gripping
themselves
IsrEgvAw Win surEnIsrESDESr
Anxious to learn as Tar as possible the reception tho
demand OF the miners committee would receive at
the hoadquarte o the company, IJournoyed 10 Dun
mere. the residence OF Superintendent John b. Smith,
gentleman OF age, experience and discretion, anc
the most influential man IN tho company's employ.
iong anu pleasant acquaintance with the gentie
in,o INC private apartments Of tho robust.
oheery looking Superintendcnt. Tho usual c.muion-
ace saIntatons OF apces having been inter.
changed bc not omitting TO throw in gratuitousIy
joke at our expense, he agninod his Willingness to
tax with HkRALD correspondent. fhe important
sCbjcct oil tue iutervow was discussed subsa TALLY
| as follows -
Rxroarsn--From what you know Of ,hc condition
oi the men IN your employ, do you believe there wiu
be n strikef
srrrasrKspKSr-whcn VIVA, do you mcans
| REpoRrxa-You certainly cannot bo ignorant that
meetings OF your employees have been heid and tho
question o strike Tor Increase OF wages discussed
aud a demand made Tor tho return OF thc cents
per ton taken from Their wages over "a year asop
'No. inc men are not foolish enough to strike a.
such time as tha.r
.wili the company make any advance In wagesSp
| sNo, stL Iney viii not mako any advance IN wages
whco they're making nothing. A man 10 a fool Ia
think H. Why, sec bore, there isn't a COM pany
dong bus usiDcs5 and sending coal TO market sn't
losing money Tho Delaware, Lackawanna ana West
ern the Delaware aud Hudson snu Gowen's Ilcsd,n
Company borrowed millions upon millions dolla