Connecticut western news., 1884-12-10
THE ROCKING VALLEY.
The LonE Strike in tue Coal Fields No
 Nenrer on End.

A letter from Columbus, Ohio, says: The long strike in the Hooking Valley coal fields is no nearer an end than it was in July, when the Pinkerton men from Chicago were sent to the valley to guard the property of the coal opera tors, being paid S day for their ser vices. Now that the winter has set in, the situation there is awful. Miners and their wives and children are starving. and freezing as well, for, although coal Is all around them, they are not allowed to use any except slack and bone coal, and this supply is about exhausted. The owners of the mines seem determined not only to starve the men out, but to freeze them as we'll. Newspaper men who have visited the valley in the last few days report the suffering there as great. FamllIs were found who had nothing in their houses except few common chairs, one or two beds, and dilapi- dated cooking stove; the floors bare, no hre, and the children ill rags and crying for something to eat. Whole families are down with typhoid fever, and have no physicians to attend them, as they cannot afford to hire them or to buy medicine. Unless compromise is ef- tected between the operators and their old hands soon, starvation, sickness and death will have accomplished what the owners of the mines have failed to do, viz, rid the valley of the miners pres enee.
 A few of the strikers about a dozen in all-went to work on the 1st instant, and have not been interfered with. The miners disclaim any intention of destroy ing property, and say that the firing of the hoppers was the work of Pinkerton's men, their object being to hold fat job. The Governor has not been called on lately to furnish troops, and announces that he will not order out the State militia unless called on by the Sheriffs. His advices are that there is no need of troops, as the civil authorities are able to preserve the peace. Detective John T. Norris arrested two miners, but refuses to tell what they are detained for.
 Mir. c. l.. Poston. one of the leading members of the Coal Exchange, in- formed a correspondent that the Ex- change had kept their mines open for the employment of home miners, as they preferred to employ them. They would do so still, for while at least Should the miners persist in their refusal to work at reduced wages they, too, would certainly employ miners from elsewhere. He added: "The time for compromise has passed. Our fight is now to win with our terms or safer defeat Should the miners accept our terms, VIC vii offer nothing less than fifty cents, and promise good work to all who accept our conditions. We intend to use our natural advantages and obtain more extensive market for our coal. We will limit other mining districts to their legitimate trade and prevent their competition in our market. Our increased facilities will enable us to furnish employment for all. The iron furnaces would be started, which will employ a large number of foreign clement LOW working in the mines. We expect to again make this valley boom with prosperity. We do not fear competition"
 The miners do not yet take this rosy view of tho situation. They fear rivalry among miners of the districts affected by an accomplished reduction in wages here. The terms of the contract which prevents them from exercising their legal right to associate for their own protection, constitute the greatest objec- tion, and tue low price of fifty cents the