The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-07
TIE EFFECT OF THE STRIKE
The Coal-Buying Public Begins to Real
iZe that Fuel Is a Costly Article.
AL the Reading Galleries Idle and the Man
ufacturing Interests of the Schuylkill
Valley Likely To Be Paralyzed.
Nils InurnaI.

Specfai TO the indianapolis Jonrnai
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.-The leaders OF the
freighthandlers' strike are making desperate
efforts to cheer up the tagging spirits of the
men they encouraged to leave the company's
service. At one Of the meeting places of the
strikers encouraging messages were posted up
TO keep the interest of the men awakened to the
struggle. The messages announced that no
freight was being moved this way, or that way;
that new hands were quitting the company's
Service and many other things which
pictured the company in state Of paralyzing
perplexity. But there are no signs that the
public can observe that confirm these reports by
the leaders Of the strike. The only
utterance chat could be gotten di-
.rectly from General Manager Nc
Leod, to-day, was that ''there is
NO change in the situation, that he knew Of. A
Walnut street coal operator who had seen him,
however, made q strong statement TO the effect
that the thought Of arbitrating the miners
troubles had never been discussed by the COM
pany. He thought, as many others do, that the
strike will only end with the miners succumb-
Ing and may, therefore, be protracted. "The
miners and the public generally ought to know"
continued the speaker. shat the company can
not DO wiped out of existence in week
month. rs the miners threaten, but that it is
amply able 10 hold It's position. 1t has 5,000,-
900 in cash and 000 900 Of available securities
in it's treasury. and having taken it's stand will
adhere to it."
The scarcity of coal in the city yards has al
ready had an influence on the price Of that COM
modify, and just at present high figures are
ruling As high as $3.50 has been received for
the best hard-ash coal, but quotations ranging
from g. so to 81 are common, and only short
supplies are available.
The situation at Port Richmond was practi-
eally unchanged to-day. and the end OF the great
labor strike appeared to be az far off as ever. A
considerable quantity Of coal was received from
the mines and stored along the wharves at that
point The company had about 20. 600 tons
yesterday. and the quantity received to-day was
not inconsiderable. The lines of the Reading
system running into the city were not crowded.
and less freight was received at some points than
before, but at Port Richmond several heavy
coal trains were received. The work OF unload
ing the coal went on usual, and the men were
not molssred by the strikers; in fact no signs of
> strike. except the presence OF Pinkerton's de-
sectives, were apparent The men worked with
y will ana understood their bushes quite as well
rs the strikers whose places they had taken.
At a meeting last night of Local Assembly
$500, Z. OF L., composed OF Reading railroad
employees, the following preamble and resolu-
tions were adopted:
The Philadelphia q Reading Railroad Company In
the present difficulties which they have forced upon
their employees, engaging immigrants to fill the
places they have caused us to vacate and.
by proscvo tar on coa mhcS ge
have fondy believed for years intended to benefit
American labor and
Whereas, we, as citizens of this Republic, believe
the laws should beimpartial and that laws should
be enacted which confer special privileges upon any
class of citizens; therefore,
Resolved That in the coming election for Congress
men we shall support only those men who pledged
to vote to repeal the tariff on coal.
A q
of about 1000 railroad hands within the past
day or two These men were employed as en-
gineers. hremen. conductors, brakemen and
Only such persons en-
ployed in handling freight have been retained.
At some of the stations, however, the crews
will work alternately every week. There
tween the falls of SchuyIkili and Williamsport
The strike in the coal regions is 8 solid as it
can well be made. and the Reading officials are
thoroughly uneasy. The public, who are the
sufferers, are getting angry. and there il mis-
taking the temper OF those who have great in
terests at stake the coal supply is nearly ex-
and there is quiet but determined
spirit being manifested everywhere in eastern
Pennsylvania that President Corbin cease his war
on the knights Of Labor for the present, at least
A well-known furnace man said to-day, that il
this trouble Is not quickly settled it will par
alyze business and stop she mills and factories
all over the State where they are depending
upon anthracite coal for fuel Matters are
growing more complicated daily, and it is prob
able that the proprIetors of all the leading in
dustries will call meeting within few days
with view of urging the railroad officials to
adopt ~ more conciliatory policy. Business mon
throughout the coal regions say that the miners
were never more determined than they to-
day, and will resist the destruction of their or
gaiyation to the bitter end They say it will be
the greatest battle on record, and should it last
any length of time it will be impossible to even
estimate its consequences
There are some forty furnaces located along
the line of the Reading railroad and to-day,
after much correspondence, the Reading Coal
and Iron Company supplied some of the most
needy furnaces with coal, but at an advance of
so cents per ton, delivered at Schuylkill Haven.
The rate for years was g. 20, but to-day it was
to SO per ton.. This will result in an
increased cost for producing pig-iron, and may
prevent eastern Pennsylvania manufacturers
from competing with furnaces whore both coal
and labor are cheap. or it may result In closing
down the furnaces. More discharges of rail-
made ut Reading to-day. The total number dis
charged from Philadelphia to Williamsport Ia
at one thousand.
During last night and up to noon to-day but
500 cars passed down the road through Reading.
The advance in the price of coal Is bringing the
cost of the strike home to everybody throughout
have been informed by the producers that egg,
stove small stove, pea and chestnut coal would
be advanced mt the mines 81 per ton over the rul-
ing price Dec. 81. The coal mines OF the Read
ing railroad are not Offering for sale any coal in
that section.
There has been considerable anxiety as to
whether or not tho company would continue to
furnish individual operators with cars. Accord
ing to special dspatch from Donaldson,
Schuylkill county, Miller So Co. operating at
New Lincoln. had intended paying the per
cent over the $3.50 basis pending arbitration,
and when settlement had been reached, Mr.. Mil
ler said he you'd Day his men the same as other
operators A committee called him at his
office in Pine Grove and were informed by him
that he could not continue the per cent. as the
railroad company had notified him that il he did
20 they would not send him any cars and he was
b cid subject 20 the order of the Phiiadelphia a.
Reading company. he said: ~ lay the whole
blame of this strike on President Corbin and Su-
perintendeut Sweigard. They wrong in
rot arbitrating this question and recognizing
he knights Of Labor, which organization has
been q great benefit TO me-
The joint labor committee has been in session
'or two days, &C Pottsville, trying to decide
whether the operators who are willing to pay
the advance shall be permitted TO mine coal 60
Do handled by scab raiiroaders. This question
. n momentous one with the labor organizations.
rhe raiiroaders objected to the mining of coal
~ nd eli 81 IA