The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
The Great Coal strike in England.

The Great Coal strike in England.
The struggle between labor and capital
which has broken out in the north OF Eng
land has assumed proportions that dwarf
for tho moment all other British questions,
political or social. The whole industrial
fabric of the United Kingdom is based on
coal, and long-continued arrest OF produc-
tion in the collieries OF Durham. Northum-
berland, and North Yorkshire may have tho
gravest consequences in the present con-
dition of English trade. On all sides the
keenest anxiety is felt concerning the issue
OF the obstinate struggle between the en-
ployers and the employed, and 1t is worth
while to mark the origin of difficulty about
which opinion seems to be much divided.
The Durham coal field, where the strike
began. is the oldest as well as the most pro-
ductive in the world. From its mines come
the huge supplies on which the Cleveland
iron and steel trades, the chemical factories
Of the Tyne, and the engineering and ship
building industries OF the northeast coast
almost exclusively depend. Twice within
the last fifty years the workmen and the
mine owners OF this extensive district have
| come into sharp collision. The great strife
| OF 1882 resulted in victory for the laborers;
but in the still more memorable contest OF
| 1874, the men, after untold suffering, were
compelled 10 accept the terms dictated by
their employers. From the last named date
| to the present time, production had gone on
without any general suspension, though
not without some disputes touching the
| proper rate Of wages. Just five years ago,
when the prices Of coal had begun TO decline
toward their normal level, the miners vol
UNFAIRLY conceded considerable reduction
in their pay. Six months later however,
viz, In October, 1874 the owners claimed a
further rebate OF twenty per cent and arbi-
tration was applied for the first time in Dur
ham to regulate the question. Mr.. RUSSELL
GURNEY, the umpire, allowed a fall OF less
than one-half OF the amount claimed by the
owners. Dissatisfied with this award they
resorted To the same system Of settlement
three times more within two years, and It is
simple justice to the miners to say that they
suffered reduction after reduction, repre-
senting an aggregate decline OF forty per
cent. with stoical resignation. At present
the rate OF wages per shift in the Durham
collieres ranges between $110 and $1.35, the
hewers averaging rather more than three
tons per man in each shift.
Meanwhile however, the selling price OF
coal at the pit mouth has fallen TO S1.14 per
ton, figure wholly unparalleled since the
Mines Regulation act OF 1872 came into
operation. There is no doubt that such n
condition of the market leaves very little
scope for profit on invested capital. and the
owners declare that work cannot go on
without reduction of at least fifteen per
cent. on underground and twelve and a
half per cent. on surface labor. Now al
though the workmen participated, as they
claim, but slightly in the enormous gains OF
some years ago, when the average price of
coal at the pit was nearly 81 per ton yet
they are willing in the present instance To
refer the matter in dispute. as before, to arbi-
tration. They have even gone further and
proposed to accept reduction Of ten per
cent, which is more than any umpire has
ever in their previous contests sanctioned at
one time. 1t is because the employers have
substantially declined to refer the question
to umplres that the men now exhibit an UNI
usual degree Of evaporation, and that their
resolute attitude is regarded with unusual
tolerance and sympathy on the part OF pub
lie opinion. In many quarters where the
claims Of capital might be expected to find
advocates, 1t is said that the owners have
always demanded greater fall than they
either looked for or required, and that they
should have been co intent with the offer OF
ten per cent.
The determined temper OF the workmen
was shown three weeks ago by the species OF
plebiscite taken in the County of Durham
only some two hundred voting in favor OF
the masters terms, and more than twenty.
one thousand against them. The breach has
since widened with every day, and there is
no doubt, in view of the latest kilograms
that the struggle will be fierce, widespread
and lasting. The Durham Miners Associa.
tion is numerically, the strongest loca
Union in the world, and, moreover, the dura
tion of the strike cannot be measured by It's
pecuniary resources In the great struggle
Of 1874, when the miners had far less means
than they have now, they We're still able tC
hold out for some four months. II Is ex
tremely doubtful whether, in the present
juncture, the industries OF Great Britain
could withstand such a prolonged collapse
OF coal production.
In Durham proper there are no less than
three hundred colleries, whose average out
put reaches %, 100000 tons year, while In
Northumberland there are about seventy
five mines, yielding 100000 tons Of the min
eral per annum We can best appreciate the
Importance of the great Durham coal field
when we bear in mind that 1t produces more
than the mines of Cumberland, Cheshire
the three Lancashires Derby shire, War
wickshire and Leicestershire combined, and
that alone 1t furnishes emu loyment to some