Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-07
MINERSDETERMINED
THE COAL SUPPLY IS NEARLY Ex-
 HAuSTED.


 HAuSTED.
 Business Men win Insist that President
 Corbin Shall Cease His Warfare on the Knights of Labor-The Railroad Strike Practically Unchanged.
 READING, Pa, Jan. 7-The Reading com pany have laid off about J, 900 railroad hands within the past day or two These men were employed as engineers, fremen, con- ductors, brakemen and coal handlers. Only such persons employed in handling freight have been retained. At some of the stations. however, the crews will work alternately every week. There is hardly 100 new men in active service between the falls of Schuyl- kill and Williamsport.
 The strike in the coal regions is as solid as 1t can we'll be made, and the Reading om' cials are thoroughly uneasy. The public who are the sufferers, are getting angry, and there is no mistaking the temper of those who have great interests at stake. The coal supply IS nearly exhausted, and there is a quiet but determined spirit being manifested everywhere in eastern Pennsylvania that President Corbin cease his warfare on the Knights of Labor, for the present at least. A well known furnace man said yesterday that if this trouble is not speedily settled it will paralyze business and stop the 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 probable that the proprietors of all the leading industries will call meet ing within a few days with view of urging the railroad officials to adopt a more concili- atory policy. Business men throughout the coal regions say that the miners were never more determined than they are to-day, and will resist the destruction of their organiza- tion to the bitter end. They say that it will be the greatest battle on record, and should it last any length of time it will be impossi- ble to even estimate the consequences.
 PoTTsvILLE, Pa., Dec 7.-Hundreds of Knights will continue working, regardless of cons, quences. The only information elicited as to the result of the conference of local officiais Thursday at Philadelphia is that it has been decided to remain quiet and let events shape themselves. No special efforts are to l,e made to start any collieries. The company is not well pleased at individual companies conceding the advance and going to work.
 Tle Po,tsville Merchants exchange has de, cded to cease selling on credit to any GUS toner out of employment in consequence of tho strike. This will be terrible blow to the strikers, but it is the only salvation the merchants have. They have gone through strikes before, and know that bankruptcy awaits those who continue the credit system. One merchant said at the meeting: ''Iil sell 5000 of 1867 strike accounts for $3O."
 Most of the individuals continue working The company worked but three collieries yesterday.
 PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 7.-The leaders of the freight handlers strike are making des- perate endeavors to cheer up the Tagging spirits of the men they encouraged to leave the company's service. At one of the meet ing places of the strikers, encouraging mes sages were posted up to keep the interest of the men awakened to the struggle These messages announced that no freight was being moved this way or that way; that new hands were quitting the company's ser vice, and many other things which pictured the company in @ state of paralyzing per- plexity. But there are no signs that the public can observe that confirm these reports by the leaders of thestrike.
 The only uttetance that could be gotten dirt ctly from General Manager Mcleod yesterday was that "there is no change in the situation" that he knew of. A Walnut street coal operator who had seen him, how ever, made a strong statement to the effect that the thought of arbitrating the miners troubles had never been discussed by the company. He thought, as many others do, that the strike will only end with the miners succumbing. and may, therefore. be pro tracted. "The miners and the public gener- ally ought to know" continued the speaker, "tbat the company cannot be wiped out o1 existence in a week or month, as the miners threaten, but that it is amply able to sustain its position. It has s, 5,OOO, 900 oi cash and 13,000,0 900 of available securities skc %oIxo it will adhere to it."
 The scarcity of coal in the city yards ha, already had an influence on the price of tha, commodity, and just at present high figures are ruling. As high as $7.5O has been re ceived for the best hard ash coal, but quota tions ranging from $6 50 to $7 are common and only short supplies are available at that
 The situation at Port Richmond is practi cally unchanged, and the end of the great labor strike appears to be as far off as ever w Not Dor