The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-11-24
LABOR AND TRADE.
COAL MINERS ARBITRATION AGAIN.
A nss,IuE a. Pl..lb.rsh and an uaplrs Chosen.
Collapse Of the Scheme to Rsorsaa:E, BroWs.
Bonnsll 4 Co. Oh Cooperative BalIs.
800 Railroad A,a Discharged.

IT1TSDuRGH, November 23.-The miner
and producers delegates from the Rlyel
Coal District met this morning. The sub
ject to be discussed was the equalization
by arbitration Of prices for coal mining in
the Fourth Pool. To thoroughly under
stand this matter, an idea Of river coal
mining mus. be had. OF the foul
pools, the Fourth has always been the
"black sheep" This is not only on &C.
count Of its greater distance from market,
increased lockage, and other expenses,
but the coal itself ii held 10 be inferior to
the coal mined at the lower pools. This Ii
no theory or conjecture. A private tele-
gram from Cincinnati says: "Lower pools,
s cent?; Fourth Pool, Z cents." And so 1t
is at every coal port, clear down to New
Orleans. The Fourth Pool rules about one
cent under the rest. Ithas trace Of sui
phur in it, and It's bituminous properties
are said to be inferior. On the
other hand the veins are very
deep, some OF them averaging FIVE and
six feet, and mining Is comparatively easy.
But il has, ss stated, always been q bone
vi NoAtVhtioh ak1obb iANOA AhihGlas W hSh
other miners were on strike the Fourth
Pool wsuld refuse 10 "stay OUT" and when
other pools settled on price and went
steadily 10 work, the Fourth would jump
the limits and turn out on its own account.
The result Is that no one can tell anything
about the Fourth Pool, and to-day the
different mines are working in II on prin.
ciples entirely their owE-some at s., and
some at 81 S5. 1t Is to make q nnanimity
Of price that the present convention Of
miners and producers is being held.
WILL NOT SUBMIT.
Last night kilograms were received at the
Miners Association from Morgan & Gregg's
mine, the Caledonian, American, Excelsior,
Bergadie and mine. at Fayette, all Of
them in the Fourth Pool, and stating that
they would not submit to arbitration. 1t
may be stated that there is very strong
feeling agasnst arbitration in the pool.
It's miners argue that - individual
prices will pay them better and al
low them more independence than an ar
bitrating committee. Be this as 1t may,
the convention this morning offered no
way out OF the woods. The four gentlemen
present representing the producers were
Messrs. Frazier, Allies, Morgan and Woods,
the last representing Turnbull q Co. On
the side OF the miners, the four delegates
were Robert Strong, Robert @. Campbell,
Alexander McCreedy and Wm. Vaughn.
Mr.. WEEKS CHOSEN UMPIRE.
The meeting was a private one and re-
porters were excluded. 1t held in seeaion
about two hours and adjourned with but
slight accomplishments. The discussion
was entirely upon the unanimity Of Fourth
Pool miners, and 1t was conclusively proven
that there was disturbing element in that
posi- that would not eubmit to arbitration.
The name Of Mr.. Joseph D. Weeks, OF the
Iron Age, had been proposed for umpire;
but the pertinent decision was upon
the probability or possibility OF an
umpire's decision being accepted by
the miners. Mr.. Morgan dejectedly ex.
pressed the belief that o control OF the
Fourth Pool was next to impossible, while
other members, on both sides, expressed
the opinion that the hopes Of arbitration
were fallacious amid such conflicting
opinions. However, the joint committee
inter to keep at the problem until they
solve it. They elected Robert Campbell
President and J. W. Allies Secretary.
After long discussion Mr.. Jaseph Weeks
was appointed arbitrator.
After the election Of the umpire the
Board adjourned until Tuesday, December
4th. Meanwhile, the miners will use
every effort to have all the mines OF the
Fourth pool to accept the Boards decision,
regardless Of the failure Of operators and
miners to arbitrate in other pools.