Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-01
THE GREAT STRIKE.
Status Affairs in the Cumberland
Coal Region.
The Tramp of the Armed Soldier Probable
Paying Off and Closing the Mines
Rumors that New Miners are
to be introduced.
CONTEST OF LABOR AGAINST CAPITAL


passing through this picturesque country,
the great Cumberland coal region, thirty
four miles long by about five miles wide,
would be struck with its natural beauty
and attractiveness, but would see nothing
to indicate the giant struggle going on here
between labor and capital. He would not,
on the surface, see any signs to indicate
that three thousand miners and eight
hundred Iaborers, carpenters and mechan-
les, aggregating, with their families,
fifteen thousand two hundred, were con-
tending in all the earnestness of their
nature against the representatives OF SI5,-
OOO, 600 invested in mining and shipment OF
the semi-bituminous Goals of this region.
Yet such
A Giant Contest
is in progress and making such headway
that il is thought the tramp of armed SOL
diers will be heard OH these hills
by April 10th. The contending
parties in this matter admit that the day
for argument and discussion has passed and
all are waiting the issues OF the future
quietly and in dignified manner, but evil
IDENTIFY with no little anxiety. To the
numerous combined coal companies il is
matter of profit or loss, while TO the miners
it means submission TO the will Of their
employers or eXpatriation. The order and
quietude of this region is wonderful. Along
the line of the raiload the employees are
seen on holidays. but now they are at their
homes fixing up their gardens and doing
similar domestic work, not standing in
groups talking the situation over, nor
Singly hunting news.
The Disposition OF the Men,
and the regulations governing them seem
to be exceptionally good. The men have
returned all the tools belonging to the
companies, and tomorrow the formal dis
charge of all the miners heretofore EN-
ployed by the Consolidated Coal Company
takes place, after they have received pay
mcnt in full at SiNty-tive cents per ton for
all coal mined between March and March
II. After this it is said all intercourse be.
tween the company and the men will
cease; that the coal company will then be
at liberty to hire them as they would men
who are strangers to the mines. The pay
IL. off will commence AT Ocean mines. the
paymaster'S car afterwards running
10 Frostburg and then to Eek.
hart mine to pay oil the men OF
the other five mines. This pay
ing off is supposed by the miners to be the
winding up Of everything, preparatory TO
big wait for a settlement Of existing diili-
culties, but such is evidently not the view
OF the
Capitalists and Managers.
The miners, from their position here and
the assistance which is stated they will
receive when it is necessary from the
Knights Of Labor in other sections, can
probably endure the long-continued strike
,.;tbnnf oarinnS iuponvan ieppp whila "A
prolonged abandonment of the mines must
necessarily infiict very hesvy damages on
the owners of the coal properties. In a
word, if the two great cOmbatants were 70
decide on firing each other out, the coal
product Of this section would dis.
appear for an indefinite period,
and probably for some considerable space
of time. 1t is therefore stated, but not
authoritativCly, by those whose opinions
are entitled to consideration, that within
the next two weeks
Miners From Abroa'
will probably be brought - this section IN
work one or more ~ the mines. 1t is not
intended I" yrIng the new men here in such
lofce Low as will enable the managers to
open all the mines at once, but only one
or two OF them, and then arrange for the
others afterwards. These new miners it is
stated by those who claim to know, will be
accompanied by such heavy guards in the
shape of soldiers and policemen as will in
sure them against attack from the miners
here. Men here Of judgment do not think
there would be any outbreak i'll cOnse-
quence Of the arrival in this section Of
new miners brought by the companies, but
think that in the end the companies would
lose so much by them that the
Mines Wouid he Closed.
and this on account OF the new men being
unable through ignorance Of the structures
of those mines. - handle the coal to advan-
tage. In this view more than one intelli-
gent man on the side comedies so far rs TO
say that the new COmers Cuuld not work
the mines 10 the same advantage AZ the pres
ent miners. The statement OF intelligent
men who have worked in these mines for
periods varying from ~ 20 - years and
who talk attractivcly, posses no small in
terest for those who study human life in
all its various phases. They admit that
mining here is not as hard ~ it was years
ago nor quite so injurious Ia health, but
say mildly, though firmly. thatthey have
cause OF complaint agl nst the cOmpa-
nies for breaking up. as they allcge has
been done the comparative little comfort
of the miners life by taking - cents per
ton off the mining Of coal and that. too. at
the time when coal was advancing. Nc
ClellRn's system Of
MasterIy Inactivity
is the one relied on here now, and il is A
matter OF dispute as to how long it will be
before the mine managers in New York
and Baltimore viii decide to abandon a
similar line of conduct and send on the
new miners, who, /; is said are 10 super
sede those so long engaged In developing
this section. The arrival Of these expected
new miners will probably be the only strik-
ing thing TO chronicle for some time.
1t is currently rumored this evening that
the coal companies have agreed 70 have a
conference with a committee appointed by
the miners. to be held in Baltimore at an
early day. for the discussion OF their differ
ences with view Of adjusting them, but
the feeling is not buoyant that the confer.
ence will effect any thing
THE PITTsBURG MINERS.