The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-07-19

lubllc Ltoycfi Julyt l4tni Inc hnulrhCle
coal trade has now entered upon the first
month Of the last half Of the year 1879, us
unly the dullcst month for tho coal trade
in all the year. As TO traffic, coal produc-
ton and prices the trade shows no material
change from this time last week. Beyond
the fact that the market is little dull IL is
unchanged. A large portion of the sales Of
coal making by some Of the companies just
now is at the May prices, which range at
from 10 to 40 cents lower than the circular
prices for the current month Of July. The
supply Of coal, too, is pretty full. The chief
topic of interest in the trade the past week
was restless spirit among the workmon at
the mines as to wages. At present prices Of
coal this demand by the men for increased
wages is considered by the operators as alb
surd. As yet the developments towards
strike ure mainly confined TO the Lchigh,
Wlkesbarre and Scranton coal regions, aud
even in these the operators do not seem to
take the matter much TO heart, and either
believe that there will be no strike or that
ii will not be general, and SO lessen pro-
ducton, to the general strengthening Of the
market all around A stronger market is
desired the better to insure apd maintain a
contemplated advance of prices in August,
aud nothing would effect this so surely as a
suspension of production of coal, nor could
il come in any more acceptable way than by
strike seemingly made against the will Of
the operators. But as yet the movements
are too local and too exclusively outside Of
The Schyylkill region TO be very alarming
TO those who are really opposed to a strike
For strike to take place in the more north
ern coal fields and work continue on unOb.
structed in the Schuylkili region would be
most unsatisfactory to all in the nonproduc-
ing regions and, indeed, satisfactory to mono
50 much as to the Reading Railroad and 10
Mr. Gowen, its president, us IL would give
to his company full employment, and at
the advanced prices that the lessened supply
of coal in the general market would invite.
It is apprehension on this point that gives
10 the movements and meetings of the DIS
satisfied workmen their present shaky and
uncertain action,
Many of the operators would not object TO
see temporary strike with view to ad-
vancng prices, but they are unwilling 10 see
partial strike, leaving any one region or
company to be advantged from their loss.
The workmen see and appreciate the injus-
tee Of the workingof any such policy as that
here hintcd at, and are fighting very shy Of
the Schuylkli coal region. There is an inn
preston abroad in the coal trade Of an inn
piled understanding between the president
of the Reading Railroad and the miners in
his region that they shall have pay equal TO
that received by the men ia any other coal
region for like work. OF the truth Of this
there is nothing publicly known, but better
relations between the company and the labor
at the Schuylkll mines exists now than al
most ever before. This harmony awakens
the distrust of the other coal regions, and
until the called meeting Of the Knights OF
Labor, which is Fixed for tho 23d instant, al
Shenandoah City, nothing will be definitely
known as to a general strike throughout all
the regions. At this Shenandoah meeting
some Of the big guns Of the "labor" party
have been announced and are expected TO be
present. Among others we have heard
named lIendrick B. Wright and General
| Butler, but later reports say that the latter
/ named gentleman has assigned himselfelse
where aud ,he Pennsylvania politician o.
Luzerne will probably think better Of it be-
/ fore the day named and keep himself alooi
| This addressing of meeting of striking
workmeu urging, the adoption ofan arbitra
~ policy, has become at this day two edged
AID is a hobby difficult for the most adroi
| ~ ride successfully. The local agitators
however are reported rs busy in working ul
a big meeting, and have already awakened
80 much interest m it as to render the iutur'
Of a strike uncertain until after its holding
80 far there are no striking miners in con
noctlon with the Reading Coal and Iror
: Company in the schuylkill region. A
shamokin the men at five mines have sirucl
and IN the Lehigh region the men at sever
mines are out for various causes. From
these small beginnings a generel strike a
this time is doubted, in which case on ad
vance OF prices in August IS uncertain, bu
higher prices Of coal before the end Of th,
year is not doubted.