The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-01-05
ROBBING THE MINERS.
a System that May Result in a
Great Strike.
THREATS OF A GENERAL UPRISING
Thirty Thousand Workneu Protest
Against Paying Tribute to Their
Employers-EXtent of the Annu-
al Leyy-Ke solutions of
the Mass Meeting.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dee. 29.-The miners
OF the anthracite region are stirred up
considerably over the powder question,
and il is the one topic of discussion
among them to-day, owing to the re-
fusal of Supt. Storrs, of the Delaware,
Lackawdnna q Western Company, to
reduce the price from IS to 8 keg, as
demanded bya committee representing
all the company S miners that waited on
him Thursday.
In response to a call issued some ime
since 10y District Assembly lG, a con-
ventlon attended by delegates from the
Delaware, Lackawanna mines along the
Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys was
held here yesterday and remained in
session until late last night, deliberating
as to the best course 10 be pursued for
the purpose of securing the desired re-
duction, which would be considered as
equivalent to an advance in wages.
All the miners in the region are in
sympathy with the movement to bring
down the price OF powder to what it was
III war times, and as most of the other
companies and individual coal opera
tors are governed by the action of the
Delaware, Lackawanna * Western Com
pany, it was decided to make the de-
mand first upon that corporation. Ac-
CordIngly committee was appointed to
wait upon General Coal Agent Storrs,
at his office, and state the case to him
from the standpoint of the workingmen.
They represented that the price
charged for powder by the mining COM
panles-93 per keg-to their miners,
fn-- = .
bought for elsewhere and respectfully
asked that il be reduced to g per keg,
which would still leave the companies
handsome profit on this item in the ex-
pense of the work of mining.
Mr.. Storrs replied that he would hear
the convention if it so desired. but he
could talk TO five men as readily as to
fifty. He also stated most mphatically
that he would not make any reduction
III the price of mining powder to the
men, nor would he treat with persons
who didn't represent hls miners. At
tins point he was informed he would be
required to face every miner employed
by the Delaware, LackaWanna x
Western Company as they felt to a man
that the price of powder was an imposi-
ton which they should not toler-
ate. The company would neither re-
duce the price nor let its miners buy
elsewhere and they felt that this was
unjust and unfair. Mr.. Storrs in answer
TO this said that the question could not
in any event be considered before
spring, and if the company made a re-
duction III the price of powder it would
be compelled to advance the price or
other things, such for instance, as the
rent of company house." occupied by
the men, and the price of prepared
coal, which is furnished at nominal
cost to the company's employees.
The committee then asked whether
the company would permit the miners
to purchase powder where it could be
bought to the best advantage and Mr.
Storrs replied that if the miners bought
powder from agents who sell it cheaper
than the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Company it could not be used
because of its inferior quality and
smoke creating character. He called
the attention OF the committee to an
agreement made between the coal COM
panies and their men about 1866 when
it was stipulated that the price OF pow
der should remain at So a keg, no mat
ter how high it went III the market.
He concluded by declaring that there
would be no reduction.
The committee reported the result of
The interview to the convention and,
after long and lively session, it was de-
cided to hold mass meetings on Satur-
day next at Dunmore and Pittston for
the purpose of arousing public senti-
ment on the subject.
There are in all about 800 collieries in
the territory between Shickshinny and
Forest City, Susquehanna County. The
number of miners employed therein, as
near as can be estimated, is about 23,-
0OO. The total consumption of powder
during the year 1886 was 56S, l69 kegs, or
an aggregate total cost TO the miners of
81 ,67S, ,S96.25. The net profit to the com
panies ofthis region IN powder sold to
the 2S, 900 miners IN one year amounted
10 $933, 1865.
1t is expected the trouble will result
in a general strike.