The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-15
4 GREAr srRIrcE INTENDING.
Coal Miners in the LehIgh Region Dis.ntis-
ned with their Wages.

PHILADELPHIA, April IA despatch from
Bethlehem says that there is prospect OF an
other coal war. The miners and laborcrs
employed by some individual operators who
have been grumhling ut their rate OF compenso-
tion for some time past, discovering that their
wages are from five to ten per cent lower than
the pay received by other Golfers in the Lehigh
region. have held meetings and resolved to de-
mand an Increase. Tho men employed in the
Beaver Meadow district are particularly dissat-
isned. and have determined to hold to the rcso-
utlons as adopted by the Miners and Labor
crs' Benevolent Association. which has lately
becn gaining largo membership and power
ful influence. Several local strikes are In prog
ress. and Judging from the general feeling
throughout the region It is not in the least i'm
probable that every colliory on the north and
south sides will be- idle within n short time.
The number OF colicry operatives interested
in this great movement ~ about l2OUO. who
represent y mining population oil between
25 900 and 80 600 The operators appear To be
in n for!orn situation, in consequence Of tho
almost demornlized and very Improbable state
OF tho conl trade and ms tho belief s general
that leading coal men are in no immediate po-
sition to increase the mems wages. and VIII or
der an entire suspension OF mining operations
in the evert OF strike, the outlook Ia gloomy
and critical
located in and around the Hazelton district.
made n satisfactory arrangement With their
miners earlier in tho yenr, ana II - hrn"Ned
there will be- no trouble In the region where
tins company operates. pHrdcc & Co.'S mining
rates IRE ~ follows: When lchgh coal nver-
ages 50 per ton on board OF vessels in New York
waters. the price paid for inside work will he /:
For mining Mammoth Vein coal. per ton Of ~
cubic feet, 49, cents: miners weekly wages
will bn tl2.GO. and lnhorers shall receive from
$3.50 10 slOSO. As coal advances or declines In
price from tj so shall the price vary Mt the rate
of IA per cent for each dollar Of such advance
or decline. On all outside work the prices arc
fixed monthly. and vary to certain extent with
the coal. although there will he no regular PR
centagc for an advance or decline on the price
OF coal.
Tho Erenino telegraph saws: Franklin h.
Gowen. President " the Philadelphia nni
Reading Railroad Company. and the l.ehigh
Valley Railroad ofllcinls. disclaim all knowl-
cige oi the reports from Hn2lcton concerning
| tho removal Of negotiations for n coal comhina-
ton. The impression II, however, that any
steps for reviVing tho compact must hn inittntrd
| bv the Lehigh Valley interest. and that efforts
! ara boing made to bring about an asre"m"nl
between Judge Packer and tho individual
| operators in the Lehigh region. President
/ Gowen is known to he In favor ol tho movement
| 20 bring about higher prices. and hns expressed
himself to the cff'ct that the present depressed
! state of trade would have a tendency to crrai'
| a combination OF some kind. There are no de
mite indications Of concerted action at present