Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-09
ANOTHER HALF CENT
On Present Rates is What River
Miners Are Agitating About.
OWNERS SAY WE CAN'T AFFORDIT.
The Courts Asked to Intervene in the
0'Hars Glass Strike.
ALL THE MoLDERs BUTTS NOW AT WORK

Indications at the present writing seem to
point to trouble ahead between miners and
opera tors in the river regions. The follow
ing circular was placed in the hands of local
river operators yesterday morning:
DEAR SIR-At q delegate meeting Of Monon-
gahela and Youghiogheny Valley miners, held
at Monongahela City, Wednesday, November
6, 1889, the following action was taken:
First-That the active condition of the down
river markets can and does admit OF an advance
in mining rates.
Second-That committee of representative
miners be appointed to confer with the opera
tors, looking to a mutual adjustment of the
price question.
Third-That pending such conference a sus-
pension of mining be in force. Said committee
to have discretionary power in dealing with a
like committee of our employers.
In pursuance of the foregoing, the following
were appointed as Miners Committee: Hugh
Mclaughlin, l. E. Graham, John II. Fretwell.
John Rush, Joseph Maize.
Gentlemen, in pursuance of our instructions
as set forth in the foregoing: We would on
behalf of the miners of the Monongahela and
Youghiogheny valleys respectfully request
that you use your influence with the members
of the Coal Exchange to secure us hearing,
and if possible, an amicable adjustment of the
question.
We shall confidently expect from you a
favorable answer to our request not later than
Tuesday, November IL 1889. Respectfully,
HUGH MCLAUGHLIN, Chairman.
JOSEPH MAIZE, Secretary.
The claim of the miners is, in short, that
In December of last year coal sold in the
Cincinnati market at cents per bushel, and
miners were receiving cents per bushel;
that on the 1st of this month the selling
price in the same market was 81 cents per
bushel, and on Thursday that the price was
71< cents, the rate paid to the operatives
being ~ cents. Taking a line through
these prices, the men claim that they can
equitably demand return to- the last win
ter's rate Of cents.
MINERS LIVING IN HOPE.
They infer, too, that the increase will be
granted them, from the fact that at this time
last year there was a six months visible
supply ahead, and that now stocks are con-
Spicuously bare, and implying that oper-
ators cannot afford to hold out for any
heightened time, should they refuse to pay
the desired k-cent increase.
From what was learned among operators
yesterday, however, it seems that the miners
are not posted as to the prices that at present
rule in the Cincinnati markets. The writer
was shown in one Office an invoice dated in
Cincinnati on Thursday setting forth a
sale of sc, 900 odd bushels of coal at 5N
cents per bushel, being portion of the last
the current rate for coal was cents for
Fourth pool coal, and cents for the
product of the upper pools. One
prominent operator stated as his opin-
ion that the rate of 5Z cents would
probably rule for some time to come
and that at such rate it was impossible to
make any increase on the mining prices.
Another point taken into consideration by
the operators, is the increased difficulty and
cost of transportation. Owing to the OBJ
structions along the river, in the last run,
it took five boats to carry, what, it the chan
mel were not impeded, would freight but
two, involving additional outlay in haul
age power, as well as expense in breaking
up tows, and remaking them further down
the river.
KANAwHA COMPETITION.
Another factor kept well in view by
operators when figuring on rates, is the ac-
tive competition of the Kanavha River
region, whose operators have the advantage
of free transportation, produce quality of
coal which bears as good a name In the mar
kets as does the local product, and pay but
2 cents bushel for mining.
1t Is probable that the operators will ap-
point a committee to talk over the present
condition of the trade with the miners COM
mittee, and arrange for readjustment of |
a difficulty which threatens to become seri- |
Gus. The prevalent feeling among operators |
is that the present and prospective condi-
tions of the business are against the posi- |
bility of return to last winters rates..
About 55 mines are affected in the matter |
and about 5000 miners. The present prices |
are in the first three pools, ~ cents; IN the |
fourth nanta