Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-25
EABoR MArrsRs.


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a scarcity OF Goal Caused by Strikes
MT the Mines-Antexfering with the
manufacturing Business OF Ihe
City.
The strike Of the coal miners In the
Clearheld, Pa. and Cumberland, Nd.
regions, where the great bulk Of the btu.
minous coal used in this country is mined
is causing serious trouble in this CITY, "a
number Of manufacturing industries
that use this coal cannot obtain their
regular supply and may be obliged TO
suspend operations. A large portion of
this coal used here is supplied through
the firms Of George W. Bush q Sons
and the Charles Warner Company.
Mr.. W. d. Bush of George W. Bush
a Sons, stated on Monday that they had
very little Of this coal on hand, and.could
procure 1t only in small quantities and al
very high rates. Their report from their
operator, Saturday evening, was that
there was no change in the situation, with
little prospect of any improvement until
the first OF April. The Charles Warner
Company, who require about 800 tons
daily to supply their customers, have
about exhausted their stock and can pro-
cure fresh consignments only in small
quantities. They are, therefore, unable
to supply their customers.
In consequence Of the coal shortage the
Diamond State Iron Company, Saturday
afternoon, shut down the Diamond State
and Old Ferry rolling mills, where 100
tons Of soft coal are needed daily when
running. BY this operation about 400
men are thrown out of employment.
Monday morning representative of the
company said he had no idea
when they would be able to
obtain coal and resume opera
tons. Since the coal strike, which
began March 9Th, they have made every
possible effort TO secure the required sup.
ply Of coal, but without success, and on
Saturday they were reluctantly compelled
to shut down the rolling mills. Their
new mills in South Wilmington, and the
machine shop, are still running.
Mr.. Washington Hastings of the Seidel
q Hastings Company, said on Monday
that they had coal enough on hand to last
during this week. They receive direct
from the Cumberland mines, but had not
received consignment for two weeks.
He said he could see no prospect for the
future, and If they received no coal this
week would be compelled to wait until
the striking miners return to work.
The Mccullough Iron Company have a
fair supply of coal on hand, and hope the
strike will be ended before they scrape
the bottoms of their bins. The Malleable
Iron Oompanya are not in such good shape
and will have to shut down by the end of
the week, unless they ore able to procure
more coal.
The Marshallton and Newport iron
works were shut down on Saturday, on
account of having no coal and being un-
able TO get any.
The Edge Moor iron works, where
hard coal is chiefly used, and the estab-
lishments of the Harlan q Hollingsworth
and Pussy q Jones companies are not
yet affected by the coal famine and do
not anticipate any trouble from this
source.
The House Painters Assembly, Knights
of Labor. on Saturday night fixed the
wages of its members at %. so per day.
W. Jones & Co., morocco manufac-
turers, a few days since, received COM
munication signed 1.-THE Committee" but
with no individual names, asking for an
increase of 39A per cent in wages in the
department composed of "cellar" men.
The company replied tive might as well
give you the factory as TO grant the re-
quest" The communication was with
drawn the same day that it had been pre-
scented and the company, member says,
was told the presentation of the
communication was mistake. The
member also stated that Matthew Col
well, representing the Knights Of Labor,
subsequently called and said the request
was unauthorized. To ascertain how the
employees stood they were asked whether,
Is case of disagreement as to wages, they
would stay long enough to work out of lime
tbeslSinsthey had workedin. The employees
replied that they did not know. Mr..
Oolwell is also said to have
been questioned and his reply
was: ~ do not think there would
be any trouble about it; | scarcely believe
thnt those in authority would allow such
action ns 10 endanger the skins already
partially worked" The company thinks
there was no assurance in theanswers and
in consequence the number of skins put
in lime has since been reduced to avoid
the danger resulting from uncertainty.
The company believes that its employees
are, as class, good men and that OF
themselves they would allow no
chance for suspicion of unreliability.
II is al,o the opinion of the
company that the employees are under
orders from higher powers, and, although
some of them have been in the company's
employ for years, they are subject TO the
rule of others. The company does not
intend to shut down, but until the tone
of labor becomes settled it will not take
any fixed contract. The company's bust
ness is considerably effected by the with
drawal of the patronage of shoe firms
whose factories have been closed by the
Knights of Labor.
The Wilmington Malleable Iron Com
pany, after consultation with com
mittee of the Knights of Labor, has made
an advance of from 10 to 20 per cent in
the wages of all its employees. The com
pany wanted TO make an advance of only
10 per cent, but that did not suit the men.
Contracts will not he taken at the new
rate of wages, but those on hand will be
finished, though the company loses by the
oneration. Some of the contracts date