The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-09
EXTENDING THECOAL STRIKE
The Knights of Labor Decide to Order
Out the Wyoming Valley Miners,
And Thus Practically Stop Coal Production
Throughout All the Anthracite Region
The Order Not Likely To Be Obeyed.

New YORK, Jan. 8-A conference was held
Saturday night in Jersey City between repre-
sentatives of the various trades involved in the
Reading strike, and it vas decided that the men
should be ordered out of the Wyoming mines.
This action, it was said, would practically stop
work in the anthracite coal region. promi-
nent member of District Assembly 40 said yes
terday that the Knights had fully made up their
minds to fight this strike to an end. and would
make no attempt now to secure arbitration.
Closing the Wyoming mines. he added. woald
result in thousands of men being thrown out of
work from want of fuel to run factories and
mills.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Jan. 8.-After diligent
search this evening among miners and others in
terested the fact is learned that the miners and
laborers in this 1.-THE Wyoming) region will not
be ordered out on strike. Even il they received
such orders til y would refuse to obey them, as
they are not properly organized to make a strike.
The collieries in the Wyoming and Lackawanna
regions still at work and will continue
READING, JAN 8.-The run Of coal down the
road since midnight was but 500 cars while three
weeks ago to-day there were shipped through
this city $500 cars drawn by sixty-one engines.
At the car shops in this city the books show that
the number of coal cars in active service on the
road is about 40 900. Nearly all Of these are now
lying the sidings in the coal regions.
Navigation closed the Schuylkill canal on
Dec. TO- and about two dozen boats engaged in
the coal-carrying trade. each containing several
hundred tons of coal, became ice bound It was
not expected that this coal could be moved be-
fore spring, but every pound has been
bought mp. The Reading works purchased sew
eral boat loads aud were happily relieved from
closing down.
The information received at the company's
Office in this city tonight is that to-days meet
ings of the strikers showed that there is no
break in the miners strike Shamokn appears
to be the hot-bed of the present strike. It's
there most general, both the railroad and in
the mines, aud it is there where most feeling Is
shown against nom union men. The dis
trict assembly of Reading railroaders which met
recently in Elizabethp port, will be permanently
organized in this city next Sunday. tits ex-
pected that upon this occasion the railroaders
will more clearly define their position in the
present strike. The miners will have delegates
present, and it is expected that they will ex-
press themselves with no uncertain feeling.
Chairman Lee, of the rallroaders committee,
and all Of the leaders of the mlners' strike have
promised to attend.
A delegation of Knights from this city, who
had gone TO Pottsville returned to-day and re-
ported that they had informed Chairman Lee
that the 200 shop hands in this city would not
strike unless greater cause was shown. A Sun
day tour among some of the mining towns
showed remarkable feature of the strike, and
that is, that the women are just as enthusiastic
for strike AZ the men. In many cases where
the husbands were lukewarm their wives urged
them to strike. Il is estimated that the miners
work only half the working days in the year.
They make. on An average, between $500 and
5000 year. Many do not make more than $3.50
a year. Nearly all have large families to sup
port, but most of them live comfortably.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. S.-The Ledger, in
its financial article tomorrow, will say:
1.-The anthracite coal trade are taking ad-
vantage of the strike in the Schuylkill dis
trict to further advance the prices at the break
ers from 30 to rs cents per ton. The local
tail coal dealers have in turn increased their
prices from Sc % to $$6 so per ton to ST. 90 with
the tendency of prices toward still higher fig
refusing to quote prices for anthracite, except
from day to day, and then only subject to delay
in delivery. We are informed that the Penn
sylvania railroad has notified operators shipping
bituminous coal from the Clearfield region that,
until further notice the company's cannot
be used in transporting soft coal sent outside of
Pennsylvania or New Jersey, excepting to fill
existing contracts"
CHICAGO, Jan. 6-Thomas B. Barry, of the
general executive board of the Knights of Labor,
left here suddenly for the East this afternoon,
presumably to assume leadership in the Reading
strike and attempt q settlement Mr. Barry
said he had received telegram from Philadel-
ing. He departed without waiting to reach
decision in the matter which brought him to
Chcago-the dispute between the painters and
the hardwood fnshers. i