The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-24
MINERS AND OPERATORS MEET.

Illinois coal fields met in the supervisors
room in the court house on Tuesday after.
noon, to discuss the wage question, and fix
scale Of prices for 1859.
Present were: Operators A. F. Sweet, C,
W. g. V. Coal Co; NJ. Rsthbone, s. Coal Co
F. o. Wyatt, |. V, Coal Co; C. J. Devlin, s.
v Coal Co; N. Duncan, Union Coal Co.: f.
7. Bent, Oglesby Coal Co.; +. T. Munser,
Wenona Coal Co.; r. Evans, Coalville Coal
Co.; Mr.. Uttery, Clark City shaft MIR. Simp-
kins. of Marshall 4 Simpkins. Miners
Delegates-John Harper, William Cherry,
John Dixon, j. G. Westwood, Solomon
Lodge, George Harrison, Samuel Block
house, Charles Mackalen, Robert Jardine,
James Hudson, and Samuel Hovey, Streator;
W. Hawthorne, Peter Mccall, W. Long, and
John Freeman, ~priag Valley; Geo. Hunter,
George Simpson, William Gardner, and b.
Behring, La Sale: James Coswell and Mr..
Berbrat, Peru; Robert Fleming, Braidwood;
W. +. Cameron and Edgar Carol, Brace.
vile; Thomas Strongman, Gardner; A. II.
Ulbrich, Clark City; John Tapping, Seneca;
William Reynolds and Samuel Skerton.
Sutfernsville G. Miller, Coal City; Robert
Padden, Laceyville; Alexander Smith, Og-
lesby; and John Pettigraw, Roanoke.
No sooner was the convention called to
order than it was plainly evident that the
operators, to man, were determined to
grant no advance over last years scale, but
would agree to give the same rates, under
the same conditions as last year, not SEEM
ingly intent upon asking decrease in any
line. On the contrary, the miners, though
speaking in tones of peace and Cancellation,
appeared to possess deep rooted resolve to
secure Scent advance, if it could be ar.
ranged without ordering strike.
The operators were expecting a demand
of 8 cents. and possibly 10 cents. and Mr..
Sweet, who called the meeting to order,
forestalled oil preparatory skirmishing by
announcing that the operators would agree
to pay the same rate as last year, on the
Streator basis of so cents per ton for the en-.
suing year. II would be an impossibility
for the operators to grant an increase this
year. unless the existing conditions we're
materially changed in their favor. Every
time the eastern operators granted an ad
vance, the railroads lessened the freight
charges in corresponding degree, thus
keeping the profits just as high as ever,
while any advance made by the Northern
Illinois men would be the means of shutting
down the mines.
Gray haired Dan Mclaughlin, of La Sale,
in reply to Mr.. Sweet, said that in the Co.
lumbus convention Of 1885, it was agreed
that the rates in Northern Illinois should be
based upon an 80cent rate in Streator. and
when the operators of Southern Illinois
we're brought up to corresponding rate,
the northern operators should grant an in
crease of cents. This had been done, and
now the operators refused to fulfill their
part of the bargain.
Messrs Sweet. Munser, and Devlin spoke
in defense of their position. and argued that
this proviso included the advance of S cents
per ton, if the southern fields were brou ght
up also.
1t would be useless here to attempt o
resume of tho speeches Of the different dele
gates and operators, but from remarks
dropped and interviews, the coal situation
Of this part of the state is everything but q
happy family arrangement.
The operators argue that the southern coal
fields are far below the Streator scale in pro.
portion to the expense of their production.
The Springfield mines pay 623 cents per
ton, and the Mount Holly mines Sc cents
per ton. The freight rate, from these points
10 the lake is IS cents per ton. Their ship.
ments to Chicago for 1887 increased $4,000
tons. The Indiana and Ohio mines have
contracted . large amount Of lake tonnage
at . very low price. and will place coal on
the lake market At least so cents per ton
on06p0f IMAM ibSL boodOu. lueI ou1pu1oute
TO the north and northwest increased 4oO,-
600 tons last year. and will g. heavier than
that this year.
The freight rate from Streator. La Sale,
and other north points to the lake is 80 cents
per ton, which forces them to sell their pro-
duct in Chicago and at the lake docks at 81
per ton, or $50 at the shaft Their rail.
road contracts run from $l.25 to Sl.4O at
the shaft. This traffic amounts to two thirds
Of their trade, while the $3.50 price consists
Of the other third. The innovations Of the
southern and eastern operators will neces,
sarily compel decrease in price, and their
profits are now almost nothing. When they
paid the S5.cent Strestor rate in 1896, it was
the means Of many operators selling coal at
cost, and they could not and would not do
90 this season. The Columbus agreement
provided that they should pay the s5.cent
rate if the southern fields advanced with