Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-05-13

The SITUATIoN.-Not ripple has
passed over the surface of affairs since
our last report. A meeting was
held here last Saturday of represents
tive miners, but not word of what
transpired can be reliably stated.
Various rumors concerning the action
had havs been current, but all are
doubtless mere conjectures.
We make brief quotations from the
trade papers that oar people may see
how the companies talk. In its issue
of Wednesday the New York Coal
says: 1.-THE miners in Cumberland
have been beaten only once during
the last twenty years, and it will take
some time before they realize that
they can not have their own way
every time, although they are fnan-
cially backed. Quite number Of the
gentlemen connected with the region
feel that the direct loss by the sus-
pension is small only, in view of the
depressed state of the market. The
cost of keeping the mines idle, the
general expenses. salaries, etc, are
comparatively small, the maintenance
of plant is unimp ortant, one of the
heaviest items probably being the
keeping of the live stock. The loss of
trade to rival regions is, of course,
point which may be serious; but it is
held that all the drawbacks due to
suspension of work are Insignificant as
compared with the end to be gained,
and the fact that harmonious co-opera-
ton among the operators has been
secured. The companies, therefore,
are convinced that the step taken was
the wisest under the circumstances
a conviction which gives much
strength to their present attitude.
Continuing, the same paper says that
"the miners, it appears, are, on the
other hand, by no means depressed
by the fact that the Clearfield men
have not gone out" And az to mar.
ket operations that during the week,
number of contracts have been
closed with Eastern roads, at figures
which we understand are low. The
trade is dull and quiet, and prices
are easier tnan they have been. We
quote $4.50@4.60." The Philadel-
phia correspondent CT same paper
writes: "In the bituminous trade
there is the same "come day, go-day"
sort Of life. Reports from the gas
coal country, near Pittsburg, and in
Ohio, to the effect that certain
number of miners are on q strike
say 1000 out of Is, 000-is not cred
tied here. Operators who have col
lieries in that region say they have
heard nothing of it. In the Clear
field region, about Houtzdale, it is
reported that smallpox has broken
out, and some here attribute the de-
lay in the predicted strike to that
fact. Miners won't strike for higher
wages with an epidemic in their
midst" It's Pittsburg correspondent
reports mining affairs unsettled. The
failure of the Ohio miners to cooper
ate has muddled matters. and a
threatened importation of colored
miners from Richmond, Va, has not
added to the serenity of the situa-
tion. In Boston "some disposition to
order has been shown by the mills
and other large consumers, who have
been running short in hopes of a
speedy termination Of the Cumber-
land strike" Prices of Clarified
coal remain at $3.50 in Baltimore j,
$4.75 in New York; 1915 in Phila-
delphia, and $3.50 at South Amtoy.
|
SPORTING NoTEs.-The big "go-as-
you-pleaee" match last Saturday at
Odd Fellows Opera House, between
Slaughter and Shafer of Cumberland,
and Rocks" and McCallister, of
this place, resulted in walk over
for our boys. The contestants start
ed promptly at u noon and contin-
ued ten hours. Both of the home
men were in fine condition and could
have done much better had they been
pushed as it was at the close the
score was excellent. Below will be
found the number Of miles each man
made:
Rocks; ..............' OF miles
| Nc Callister ...............4S
OhaHef .......'".''..'..f
Slaughter. ........ .........4O
Measrs. Brimlow and Anderton
trained the home men and had them
up to the "top scratch" physically.