Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-06
IRON CITY.
Another Candidate for Congress
sional H0n0rs.
Meeting of the Western Nail Association
The Coal Miners - A Long Strike
Probable-The Last Sensation.
THE WAR OF THE GREAT COAL FIRMS.

PITTSBURGH, April 0.-amOng the Ildly
political rumors floating around the city at
present, is that Mr.. Joseph ID. Weeks Sec
retary of the Western Iron Association, and
associate editor of the Iron Age, will be
brought out as Congressional candidate,
in opposition to Major Errett. A better
man to represent this community could
not be found There is not. in the whole
country, man better posted iu industrial
matters of all kinds. Mr.. Weeks was the
special agent of the Census Bureau in the
collection OF statistics relating TO the iron
and glass industries. The large experience
which fitted him for this task, and
the knowledge gained by him white
acting in that capacity, makes him
the most thoroughly informed man
on these topics in the United States.
Added to this, he is a gentleman OF good,
sound, hard, common sense; is speaker OF
no mean ability, has his knowledge at his
tongues end, and is of undoubted integrity.
Pittsburgh could not find
Man More Worthy
or more competent to represent her in the
National Congress. Mr.. Errett's course has
not given entire satisfaction to his con-
stituentS, and if Mr.. Weeks is brought out
he will have little difficulty in defeating
him. In a conversation with the latter, he
stated that he had been approached on the
subject by number of influential gentle
men, but had not yet made up his mind to
consent to become a candidate. He did not
seem particularly averSe to accepting
nomination.
The Western Nail Association.
There was meeting OF the Western Nail
Association, to-day. AT which the attend
anCe was very large. Among the subjects
discussed, in an informal manner, was the
great prevalence OF strikes. considerable
alarm was cxpreSSedb by many who thought
strikes were to he very general and wide
spread during the coming summer. The
trade organizations were never before in "a
good a position 10 sustain long strike,
particularly in the different branches OF
the iron industry. No changes were made
in the card rates.
The Miners Strike.
The most extensive strike at present is
that Of the coal miners on the line Of the
Panhandle railroad. They strike against
a reduction from four to three and half
cents bushel for mining. The operators
seem TO have right on their side. \ prom
inent operator to-day said it was simply
impossible and ruinous for him to pay the
present price. The price paid in the Mcr-
Ger county district is seventy cents a ton,
and their freight TO the lake trade is sixty
cents ton less than from the Panhandle
region. The price paid for mining in the
Hooking valley, the principal cOmpe
titon of the Panhandle region, is
~ cents per ton. As the operators on the
Panhandle are compelled to pay $l.05 for
mining il can be clearly seen that no profit
can be made. 1t i true that the Panhandle
coal commands higher figure in the mar
ket than the other coal mentioned, but not
more than IL or % cents per ton, which is
more than covered by the difference in
freight charges to Lake and Southern ports.
The Miners Are Out
al all the works III the region, with three
eXCeptiOns-small operators. The men say
they will not yield, and the operators say
il i impossible to pay cents. Some even
favor reduction to cents. Mr.. MCCrick
art, Secretary OF the Operators Association,
states that At yesterdays meeting no diSpO-
SitiOn was shown to submit to the miners
demands and the only point of difference
was whether to insist upon reduction to
), instead Of ~ cents. The SeCre-
tary states that many operators are
coming over To the former figure.
A long strike is feared. and it is thought
serious trouble may result T. b. Robbins
x Co., at Midway, who had Il COntraCt for
supplying the freight engines OF the east
ern division of the Panhandle road, ran out
of coal, yesterday, and the road is put 10
serious inconvenience.
At the headquarters Of the Miners AssO-
citation little could be learned. The secre-
tary stated that 10 action could be taken
before L convention was called, and that
five mines must petition before a cOnven-
ton could be called. He predicts long
strike.
The Labor Organizations
of the city are talking OF making street
parade to show their strength They have
had nothing Of this kind since the strike of
the printers last summer At that time
about 10000 men were in line. 1t is eX-
peCted that, if all things are favorable,
more than 25,OD men will be in line in the
coming demonstration. Ii is intended to
invite all the labor organizations of west
ern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West
Virgin ia to take part. Early in June is
mentioned as the time.
The greatest sensation that has been
created in business circles for some time
was the advertisement OF all the property
Walton is recognized as the head OF the
coal and river trade of this city. The
property consists of seven steamboats, over
one hundred bargeS and coal boats, about a
thousand acres ut coal lands, several hun
dred tenement houses, a large number OF
horses and mules. etc. 1t is not generally
believed that Mr.. Walton intends to retire
from the coal business, 50 there must be
some other motive for the sale. A little
investigation brought this ont. The COM
pany in Joseph Walton Il Co. is, or was,
Peter Habermau. The latter became dis
satisfied with his position, not finding his
financial lines cast in pleasant places. He
wanted M. Walton to buy his one
sixth interest. Mr.. Walton offered to
do so. and offered $4,000. Mr.. lIaberman,
would not accept that figure. He mentioned
the matter to Mr.. Samuel Brown, another
very heavy river capitalist, and the latter
promptly bought his interest, paying $780,
600 cash. The firm received no notice OF
the sale until they learned of it from street
rumorS. Brown and Walton have long been
Rivals in Business.
and are not upon the best terms. person
ally. Mr.. Walton looked upon the sale rs
an attempt upon the part OF Brown to
inSinuate himself into his business and he
refused to accept him as partner. 1t was
therefore decided to sell out the whole
business, and April 10Th was fixed as the
day. The Walton and Brown firms are the
heaviest in the trade, both command almost
unlimited capital and the attempt by each
to get control OF the business is expected TO
run things up TO enormous figures. Ii is
thought the Haberman side will go to the
wall, and that the firm of Walton & Co. will
not cease TO exist Not many years ago
Joseph Walton was driving a coal cart He
~ IN ~ tah a
en- ergy and perseverance, and his keen bu>-
nes ssgacity. BaINN.
THE DEAD TRAIN ROBBER.