New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-07
THE IDLE COAL FIELDS.
INDIVIDUAL COLLIERIES CLOSE UP.

INDIVIDUAL COLLIERIES CLOSE UP.
THE READING COMPANY REFUSE THE OPERATORS
CARs-rHE SHUTDOWN ALMOST COMPLETE
AN IMPENDING CRISIS INEvIrABLE-No
: SIGNS OF YIELDING BY EIrHER
sIDE-TnE PRICE OF COAL
Tpr TELEGRAru THE TRIBUNE
READING, Jan. g." Can we afford to carry the
striking miners on our books?' Is question
that is being seriously considered by every mer-
chant, shoedealcr, grocer and tradesman in
Schuylkill County to-day.
During the strike in 1892 said prominent
merchant of Pottsville to-day over two hundred
firms were either sold out by the sheriff or granted
extensions. Out of this number, not more than
thirty fully recovered from the blow. 1t is esti-
mated that the losses sustained by merchants cx-
ceeded $500, 600. Some lost everything. One man
is said to have lost $4,000 alone In view of
this fact it is believed that many of the mer-
chants will either refuse to lay in stock or get
out of business. They cannot stand prolonged
strike and do credit business should .he not nrs ms
probable, many persons are of the opinion that the
strike will be short lived"
Only small quantity Of coal was mined by the
Reading Company to-day, probably 250 cars all
told. The strike is about as general now as lt ls
possible to make it. There is absolutely nothing
doing anywhere except at two collicrles ana thc
entire region is about gloomy as he weather
to-day The committee oil the Miners and Labor,
ers Amalgamated Association and the hnlghts OF
Labor held long session in Pottsville to-day ana
decided to call out the miners at all individual
colieries who ship over the Reading Road. Inc
members say they he w not bp permit fhe on ro hands %
Gently employed by the Reading Company 10
take the place of its strikers. Mr. Lawrence, OF
the firm Of Lawrence Il Co., owners of the large
collery at NIahanoy Plane, called on the commit
tee this afternoon. He said he was willing to pay
the per cent advance; but his employees wouid .nDa
back its old employees. The committe decided
that the miners were justified in their action ana
the coiery will remain idle; me benemore 1i coi-
lery at Ashland was compelled to shut down tnls
morning the miners and aborcrs refusing TO go 10
work. This firm had agreed to pay the adVahce.
CARS REFUSED BY THE READING COMPANY.
Lincoln colIiery, in Williams Valley near Pine
Grove, operated by Miller Il Co.. is also lde.
committee of Knights of Labor called on Mr. Miller
this morning and he told them that he could not
nav the advance as he had been informed by the
Reading officials that if he did the company would
refuse to furnish cars. FROM TINS, may oe
safely said that the Reading Company Will not
beyond a limited number. Most Of the individual
collieres in the Schuylxll district, aithougn nog
the largest are among the pest OF .he reeiou 'u
their coal is always marketable. III they coulu nc
kept at work at the increase when mas peen & or-
fered and which nearly all are wiling 10 pay,
there is no doubt that the striking keaGing ners
could be sustained for long time The men at
all individual coicries pledged themselves to stand
Inv the Reading miners. The officials know this
and it is not likely they WI ALTO dio| ca ,ehIGits hcn IT, 10
The company own about $1,000 coal cars
which arc now being side-tracled as fast as they
are brought up the ROAD Uny dvd and
all coal train hands to nearly two,thlrds OF ils
train employees have been suspended temporary;
Tho executive committee of striking miners ana @
railroad mon have established their hcadquarters
at the Exchange Hotel, Pottsville Ihey nave nave
employed special men rs runners ana asseru ,l,t'
n ~, NOT n
The ne price Of coal in Eastern PENNSYLVANIA has
gone un 30 cch'i 10 10 had at any price because the
supply has been exhausted The mining toWis
also short and it is said that thc I heo'ne y. ho
COMPANY will not permit pound OF coal TO DC
aten from its breakers for any purpose ,liiirss
the men resume work. The people living in the
;,icinity of the mines have been getting thclr
coal from the breakers direct, paving the price
obtained by the company at the scales, 81 % per
ton. Now they find their supply cut of ana ana
thoso who wore not fortunate enough TO ne aDie
70 fill their bins are likely to suffer as wei as
the people in the cities and towns outside oi me
mining districts One of the furnaces Oh tn,s ton
delivered as Schuvlkill Haven. Two weeks ago
the same coal could be had ut 81 20 ton.
This state of things may have n tendency to dIive
nm tbc pricc of pig iron or compel the furnaces to
shut down.
A coNrrRrXcr IN PHILADELPHIA
SB Whiting of Pottsvillc, the veteran manager
Of the Reading Comrany's collicrics, President
Robert Sayrc of the Lehgh Valley Railroad Com
many. Eclxley b. Coke and number of prominent
coal operators in the Iehgh region had c9hisr
once with President Corbin yesterday IN Ih,ih-
delnhia Mr. Corbin il is said. showed dis
position to grant the advance and start up the
collicries. Mr. Whiting. it is understood, uso
favored n settlement. with the men Inc Lchign
ncopic however objected to any such action claim
Ing that their men had been idle nearly three
months and that if the Reading Company would
nnIv hold ont few weeks longer their men would
C1't co to % work at the old rates Mr. Corbin it is
alleged partially aGGd to this nSoSas boTnnd pue
imitod time and only consented TO withdraw
statement which he had prepared for submission
to his men. .. .. accom-. ;tso,f
in This section of the State, particularly since II
has been learned that the company, raised the
price of coal at SchuyllSill Haven. ana demands
snccdy settlement of the present trouble