The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-01
The GREAT STRIKE.
Mining Operations Suspended
in the Schuylkill Valley.
Iron Furnaces Shut Down and
Miners Seek Work Elsewhere.

A Reading PENN dispatch, relative to
the great strike of the Reading Railroad
Company's miners, gave the position OF al
fairs on Wednesday as follows:
The report sent out this afternoon that the
Merriam, one of the Reading Company
collieries, which produces about 81, 000 tons OF
coal q year, had gone into operation was
incorrect. None of the company's col
heries are in operation, and only one or Two e
individual collierieS, and the lockout OF
miners is as complete as yesterday, ana
the outlook is even more gloomy for all
concerned. Leading Schuylkill valley
people tonight say that there Is every
evidence that MIR. Corbin has made up
bis mind to let things take their course
When Mr.. Corbin was in Reading several
weeks ago he intimated that the company
might un oad its coal property by selling 1T to
syndicate that would enter into an agree.
ment to give the Reading Railroad Co; all
the tonnage. The report that this step had
been taken to-day was not believed by busl,
ness men here, because no syndicate would
buy the mines with 10000 of the com
pany's miners on strike, and who would ao-
solutely refuse to 60 to work as long as the
coal they mined would be shipped over the
Reading lines. The labor leaders apprehend
no sale or lease Of coal lands, because that
would not make matters any better SO far as
settling the strike is concerned. The coal
lands aud collieries are now controlled by the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com,
pany, which belongs to the Reading Railroad
Company. The coal and iron company pays
the railroad company about s3oo,Voo
per month for tonnage when the
mines are going Now all this i'm
mense revenue is cut of from the
railroad company, which, the labor leaders
claim, will not be very cheerful news for the
holders Of that company securities. Usually
In January the company handles nearly 3IW.-
DO0 tons OF coal. This month the sh pments
will be next to nothing. The S4D,0;D wages
which the company would have pa!d 10 t,le
minors for this month will also not be forth
coming.
The result of the strike is being severely
lelt among the iron furnace men, and the
iron furnaces at kutztown, Lyons. Topton,
Temple, Columbia, Port Kennedy, Nor
ristowlI, and other points have either shut
down or banked up, being unanle
10 pay from So to So per ton more for
coal and make iron at profit. These
furnace men will have trouble IN keeping
their contracts, which are made for six
months Individual colliery owners are do
ing nothing to antagonize their miners.
No one will be pressed for the payment of
rent Everything is Icing done to con,
ciliate the men, because individual
colliery owners have not yet lost
hope that their m ners will yet receive per-
mission to goi in. Private operators look for
very long siege, and if they are compelled TO
be idle with the company, numerous dis
astrous financial wrecks are feared, because
Individual coliiery owners cannot stand the
loss as vel as the company can.
The fires in the Chestnut Hill furnaces at
Columbia, of which Jerome L. Boyer. of Read
ing, is manager, were banked to-day because
their coal supply gave out The mines in Mary
land from which they obtained their ore have
ment several hundred hands. The fires in
the Cordelia furnace near Columbia, OF which
Isaac McHose, Of Reading, is proprietor,
have also been banked.
Car loads of Hungarians and Italians pass
through Reading nearly every day from the
coal regions, They are among tie most en-
thusiastic strikers, and, SEEING no prospect
of work ahead in the Schuylkill regions, they
are either leaving for their native land or
other parts of the country.