The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-27
THE MoNOX0IHELA STRIKE.
Events that Led TO the Recent Sentence of
sIxty-seven Miners ror Riot.

PrTTsBURGH. March 2j.-The conviction Of
forty-eight out Of batch Of sixty-seven coal
diggcrs indicted for riot in the Washington
County Court and their sentence TO pay NOM
inal fines and the costs. amounting to 5000.
give fresh interest 10 the coal diggers strike in
the Monongahela Valley. In this valley. and in
part Of tho Youghioghcny Valley. thero are
eighty coieries. employing from 5000 to 10000
men and boys. and in these mines. the lateral
railroads. the "tipple" houses. the barges. the
steamboats, tl25 being engaged solely In the
coal towing tradel. and other machinery re-
quircd 10y this great industry. millions OF capital
are invested From out tho pools OF the slack
water are shipped annually to Southern cities
co 100000 to 10 600 900 bushels Of dusky dia-
mOnds." The hOats coming up from the South
bring at least 400 900 tons Of frrightage annual
ly for the supply Of these valleys. which TEEN
with these rich veins OF hNuminous conf IL
will be readily seen. therefore. that a strike
whore such large interests are involved noces-
sariy paralyzes the business OF our city.
since the panic Of 1873 Al that time Ave cents
per bushrl was paid for digging coal. and a
miner could make his s. day Of six or seven
hours. The wages have been lowered from
time to time by reason OF the competition OF the
hanawhn and lower river coal Operators until
the price OF labor reached - cents per hnshel.
At this ratio tho diegers can earn 81 or s225 per
day. digger. with II boy to bear in. can
mine 1870 bushels Of coal daily.
Some months ago the diEgcrs met and re-
solved TO stand out for three cents per bushel
and the operators refused 10 acccde to their de-
mands. Sope Of the operators have yearly
contracts. and their employees refused to 10
out and until within tho past three or four
weeks continued at work.
The trouble broke out at Meals coal works.
Mt Greenfield. nenr California. Washington
County. where mining had been in unintcr-
rupted progress. Several hundred miners as
semblei at these mines, announced themselves
- strikers. and tried to bulldoze Mr. Meals
hands. Mr.. Neal sent for the Sheriff. and Gov.
Hartranft rendered the use Of the military.
Tho men were pursued by mounted officers
and by boat. and seventy-eight OF them were
arrested and held to answer Twelve Of them
were discharged. seventeen acquitted. and forty
eight convicted to-day.
! The trial has been watched with great inter-
arrests by the Sheriff OF Washington County.
have kept away from Monongahela City. and
outside the limits Of that county They have
concentrated their efforts at the principal col
leries in the county OF Allegheny and on the
ioughiogheny River. and as many AZ thou
ventions built bontros. and camped about
pit mouths where the poor miners were at
| crushing work they joined the strikers.
The sheriff Of Allegheny County holds that no
| overt act has yet been committed. hence he re-
| fuses to call out the posse comitatus.
Since the present strike was begun, there
hhye been three hoanng stages o. water IN ne
| operation. 10000 600 bushels Of coal might have
| gone South. ~ Cincinnati Louisville. and ST.
| Louis where the coal supply Is ut present quite
scant The boating stages Of water were the
| finest witnessed for years and yet tho 5000
| coal barSes. the hundreds OF towboats and
| othGr vas; property employed in tho trade
| lay here idle. with loss to the coal opera
| tors which cannot be estimated. and which will
never be- made up. II is Just that much capital
| withdrawn from Pittsburgh and the Mononga-
| hel0 Valley which depends upon the coal
trade for its prosperity. Many q! the families
| OF the diggers are in AFFECT poverty.
! The employers assert that Sheriff Hunter
| shall send out posse comitntus 10 protect the
men who are willing to work. How numerous
these are II is difficult to learn. for hardly any
| body is now at work. and those who would like
! 10 resume are careful not 10 say 80. fearing
! harm from the majority.
PIrTsBuRGH. March 26.-Ata meeting OF the
| Coal Exchange this afternoon. II was decided &c
| allow three cents per bushel-the price de-
| nlanded by the striking miners in this region
| Tor digging coal. All the works will resume TO-
|