The Portland daily press., 1888-01-07
AMONG THE STRIKERS.
Yesterday Very Promising fsomi the
Standpoint Of the Men.
Prices Very Large and the Coal Sup
ply Very Small.
Fuel, Famine and Business Paralysis
Imminent Dangers.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.-ThiS Is, In all re-
spects, the most promising day Of the strike.
from the strikers point Of view, and they
are accordingly happy, while the officials Of
the Reading railroad look more serious than
at any time during the trouble. All eyes are
on Philadelphia, anxiously awaiting some
manifesto to issue from the big building of
the corporation on Fourth street.
At Port Richmond today. the work is bad
ly crippled. Sixty Italians, who took the
place Of strikers, quit work this morning
upon the inducements Of the president Of
the italian WOrkingmen's Beneficial Assocla-
tion. This, according to the men. leaves on
ly those Italians who were brought from
other cities at work on the system here
Scarcely any work was being done on the
piers, and only four shifting engines were
ceived dispatches from Bernard Sharkey.
stating that the situation was good at Potts
willie and the men all firm.
At Front and Willow streets quite block
ade Of freight trains Is noticeable, and II
can be plainly seen that the force Of men on
hand Is unequal TO the demands.
Along Pennsylvania Avenue there Is very
little to do, and consequently the small force
Is able TO cope with the work. General Man
ager Mcleod said this morning that he had
ing Of interest TO the public. IL Is certain.
however, that something in the manner Of
compromise with the miners must be made
in a few days, as the scarcity OF coal Is be-
coming alarming and every mail brings
batch Of protests from large business people.
A coal operator, who had seen General
Manager Mcleod, said today that he thought
the question Of arbitrating the miners tr0u-
BILE had never been discussed by the eOmpa-
ny. lie thought the strike would only end
m hfnO ma y
therefore, be prOtracted. The company will
adhere TO its stand.
A scarcity Of coal in the city yards has al
ready influenced the price, and high figures
the best hard ash. coal. Quotations from
$3.50 to 81 are common, and only short sup
plies are available at that The Record Com
pany, which has been selling coal at 1915
today, advanced the price TO $685., with
statements that the filling Of orders depends
on the supply Of coal Each customer
would be sold but one ton.
SHAMoKIN, Jan. 5-The miners Of the Ex-
celslor colliery have refused 10 continue
work, because the coal Is shipped over the
Reading road A general meeting Of miners
will be held tomorrow. The opinion pre-
eOllieries shipping over the Reading road
will quit. A total suspension Is quite posi-
BILE. Almost a coal famine prevails here.
HUNTINGTON. Pa, Jan. 6.-Between 200
and 800 men at PowelPs furnace, Saxton,
have struck because of a 10 per cent reduc-
ti0n in wages. The furnace Is banked. and
the men have been ordered to call for their
wages ON Monday. The strike, II not set
tied, will affect work at the company's ore
and coal mines near Tyrone and at other
places.
SHENANDOAH, Pa, Jan. 6.-The Suffolk
collieIy at Mahanoy City, working with a
small force of nOn-uniOn men, shut down to-
day. This concluded the Reading Company's
attempt to run the c0llleries without
knights. The detection among the nom
union railr0aders continues. The business
sentiment here favors the strikers. Business
men will meet tomorrow and appoint dele
cation to act In conjunction with others from
the country towns to visit President Corbln
and urge the wisdom Of arbitrating the
troubles.
Famine Imminent.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.-The scarcity Of
coal is daily more apparent, and prices are
advancing Few dealers have more than
weeks supply, and very little coal was
brought over the Reading railroad today
The dealers universally predict, from present
Indications, that coal will be selling from
IS to $40 Y ton, within ten days. The opin-
ion prevails that IL the miners stand 0ht for
three weeks, the price OF coal will be so high
that the company will be forced by public
sentiment to aecede 10 the demands Of the
men.
READING, Jan. 6.-The Reading Company
has laid off about 2O00 railroad hands during
the past day or two. The strike In the coal
regions is as solid as it can well be made
Reading officials are thoroughly uneasy, and
the public Is getting angiy There Is no
mistaking the temper OF those who have
great interests at stake. The coal supply Is
nearly exhausted, and a quiet determined
spirit Is manifested everywhere in Eastern
Pennsylvania, that President COrbin shall
cease his warfare on the Knights. A well
known furnace man said Today that II the
trouble was not quickly settled 1t would par
alyze business and stop mills and factories
all over the State, where they are dependent
upon anthracite. Matters are more cOmpli-
Gated daily, and 1t Is probable the proprie-
tors Of all the leading Industries viii call
meeting within a few days to urge the rail-
road officials to adopt more conciliatory
nnlinu