Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-13
THE INDIAN COUNTRY.
The Eject Of the Strike as Felt In the
Territory-The Coal Industry
Paralyzed.
what thu Result OF a strike Ordered in tho
Mines would Be-Anxious for More
Railway Connections.
special to tho Gazette.

Special to tho Gazette.
SAVANNA, l. t., April f2.--Our little
town Is moving on in the even tenor OF
It's way, and since the railroad has sue
ceeded in raising the embargo on freight
traffic, and the consequent resumption OF
work in the coal mines, the usual crowd
OF idle men around the stores and depot
Ia wanting Our town depends entirely,
as does the neighboring ones OF Meals
ter and Lehlgh, on the coal industry for
its very existence, and Of course during
the continuance OF the strike, or rather
SO long as II was effective in stopping the
running OF freight trains, we were at a
standstill. A large majority OF miners
at this place belong to the organization
Of the Knights OF Labor aud have a
iourishing lodge or assembly here, the
onlysoue, believe, in the Territory; but
they have taken no part in the re-
cent action OF the order affecting
the Missouri Pacific railroad Their
idleness was compelled by the fact that
they could get no transportation for the
coal. AS soon as the trains began rum
ming again they went quietly back to
their work, and have SINCE been loading
from thirty to fifty cars daily.
The extent of the coal mining industry
in this country Is not generally known.
and | would, therefore, say in explanation
that the Missouri Pacific ailway system
In Texas, as well as several other roads
In that state, obtain almost their entire
supply Of fuel from these mines, which
furnishes as fine quality Of coal as is to
be found west OF Pittsburg. The guam
tity Is practically unlimited The mines
are operated at this place and at Lehigb,
about forty miles south of here, under
the name Of the Atoka Coal and Mining
company. AT McAllster, ten miles north,
are the Usage coal and mining outputs,
under the control and ownership OF the
Missouri Pacific railroad. From four
hundred to five hundred thands
are employed at Savanna
and McAlister each, aud from two to
three hundred at Lehigh, this latter point
being eight miles west of the main track
and connected with 1t oy branch run
ming from Atoka. This branch carries
the mail and freight to Lehigh and will
probably be indefinitely extended into
the country some time in the near fu !
ture. 1t can be readily seen how deeply
anything stopping the regular running OF
freight trains on the road will affect us
at these towns. The men have been
quiet and peaceable during theirlenforced
idleness, aud with the exception of n
few hot-headed and reckless individuals, |
who are nuisance anywhere, they have
RETAINED from any Incorporate express
slons.
The action of the executive committee
in st. Louis in directing the knights EN-. !
ployed at the Ellsworth coal mine near
East st. Louis to cease mining coal for
use by the Missouri Pacific railroad as
fuel for motive power has caused con
siderable uneasiness here for fear the
order might be extended TO these
mines. Under the present conditions
which surrounded the mines in this ter
ritory, such an order, or for that matter
any circumstances which would cause
strike IN the mines, would work disas
trously to the men engaged in the strike,
and the more particularly II they were
members OF the Knights Of Labor. The
temper OF the railroad company is Ger.
tainly not favorable towards that organi-
cation, and the fact that the company
would be able to compel the immediate
removal Of the discharged men from the
vicinity and territory would make 1t
especially severe on any who might be
taken of their rolls, the more particular
~ 40 many OWh WIG HOuSeb JHey i've IN,
and have gardens and other little proper
ties around them, which would be sacri-
feed. 1t is hoped by everybody that this
trouble will not occur.
The Catholics of this vicinity are build
Ing nice church at this place, the
money for which was principal
ly raised by the ladies through
the means of fair and festival.
1t is under the management of the red
Father Rabah of Sacred Heart mission.
Two OF the young miners determined
yesterday that life was not worth living
alone, strike or no strike, and accordingly
reported to our genial county Judge, Mr..
A. Carney, to help in the betterment of
their prospects, which he promptly did
by marrying Mr., George Chester and Miss
II. A. Vaughn, and Mr.. James Whitfield
and Miss Lucy Blonde. No cards, no
foolishness, but we trust happiness.
People In the western part of the Ter
Tltory are anxious to see the completion
OF the road from Kansas City to Fort
Worth. 1t win develop the best part of
this country and do more good to the
Indians than a church fun OF mission.
aries. Railroads are good ciyilizers.
Another road on the east from Fort
Smith TO Paris, Tex, will leave a way
north without being compelled to take
the one road or walk. We need both
roads, Push them through, and with a
few more we will be ready to come IN
state, or at least to have our lands
allotted In severalty. Onrpolitlcal status
Is not material II our landed interests are
developed and commercial security OBJ.
tanned