Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-21
A STYGIAN DARKNESS
Settled in Parts of the City Where
the Lights Went Ont.
CARBON Settlers OUT0N A STRIKE
The Entire City May be Without Electric
Illumination Tonight.
GENERAL LABOR NEWS CANVASSED

Yesterday the outside working force OF
the Allegheny Light Company struck to-
support demand for an increase of wages
by four carbon settlers. Many of the city
lights were out last night, and the strikers
predict that nearly all will be out tonight.
Prior to April 1 the company paid 81
day to each of its six carbon setters.' These
are the men whose business it is to 60 about
to the various arc lights in streets and
business houses and substitute new carbons
every two days. Each lamp is inspected
daily, as sometimes the carbons will not
last for two nights. The carbon settlers
claim that their work is difficult to learn,
and that unskilled men cannot do it in any
thing like proper shape. On April 1
last the Allegheny Light Company
secured the contract to light all the
streets in the city with arc lights.
They employed four new carbon settlers at
81 IS per day. The men say that they were
promised 50 day as soon as they became
proficient. Two months ago, considering
themselves skilled in the work, they asked
Foreman John Daley for an increase of
wages. Mr.. Daley said he would refer the
request to General Manager George 81.
Blaxter. At the last but one pay day the
men preferred their request to Mr.. Blaxter,
but it was not granted. Yesterday was pay
day again, and the men decided to strike.
They stopped work at noon.
The outside workers are organized in the
Electric Union No. l of the American
Federation of Labor. The four new men
being members,
THE ENTIRE FORCE
struck with them. Those who ceased work
are the 10 carbon settlers, IL linemen and 4
inspectors, the entire outside force in
Pittsburg.
The company sent out during the after
noon a number of machinists and others
employed in the works on Virgin alley. who
replaced as many carbons as possible in the
business streets. twas impossible, through
their inexperience, to do all the work re-
quired, and many lamps were not reached.
Some that were reset did not burn, the car
bons not being properly adjusted.
Foreman Daley was out OF the city yes
terday, but ia expected back this morning.
General Manager Blaxter advertised last
evening for men to tax. the places of the
strikers. There were a number of appli-
cants. Mr. Blaxter said last night that he
thought the places of the men wonld all be
filled this morning. He said that he was
willing to use his men fairly, but could not
consent to let the affairs of the company be
run by the employees. He had desired to
have further consultation with Mr. Daley
before giving the men their answer, and was
awaiting Mr.. Daley's return to the city
when the men grew impatient and struck.
They had written
AN ANONYMOUS LETTER
to him, which contained some rather un-
called for slurs. Mr.. BlaIter drove about
the city last evening, inspecting the lights,
and had the driver and a machinist out
working with the down town lamps which
would not burn.
Many street lamps were out last night.
The police began early to report from al
most every patrol box that lights were out.
The operator on duty at the Inspectors
Office began to take a record of flights out, Z"
that he might notify the light company.
The reports came in thick and fast, and he
could not make the light company under
stand over the telephone, and he finally
| ceased to note the reports Three lights
were out on Diamond street, several on
Grant, Water and Ferry, and scattering
lights in all other parts of the city. The
strikers predict that the city will be dark
tonight that the new men cannot do the
work, and that all the carbons set on Mon
day will be exhausted this morning.
Six outside employees of the East End
Light Company struck yesterday for an in
crease of pay. They have been receiving
$50 month. The carbons in all the East
End lamps had been set on Monday, and no
lights were reported out in that section of
the city.