Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-25
PROSPEROUS MINERS.
Little Suffering is Predicted for the
Hardy Coal Diggers.
PLENTY OF WORK AND FEWER MEN.
A Very Bright Outlook for the Retail Coal
Trade This Winter.
MANY FAMILIES LAYING In SUPPLIES

John D. Conway, President of District
No. 6, N. p. u, miners, of Shire Oaks, Pa,
and John B. Rae, Master Workman of N.
d. A. 135, Knights of Labor, miners, OF
Coalmont. Pa, were in the city yesterday
on business connected with the two organi-
cations. The latter had just returned from
Courtney, where he addressed large and en-
thusiastic meeting of miners on Wednesday
night. The object of the meeting was to
strengthen the organization in that vicinity
and a number of new members were added
to the knights of Labor.
President Conway has recently made a
tour OF the coal region, and predicts pros
porous winter for the miners. He says a
large number of the miners who were in the
gone away. This will divide the work
among a less number of men, and there will
be less suffering in consequence.
HEAVY DEMAND FOR COAL.
In speaking of the situation he said: 'The
lakes will close on November 10, and
until then there will be heavy de-
mand for railroad coal. Shippers are
clamoring for cars to get all the
coal they possibly can on the lakes before
navigation closes for the winter. When
and cars will become more plenty. OF
course the demand from the lakes will
cease, but it will be more than made up
from other sources. This will give the
miners plenty of work. Many of them be-
came so disguised with the way the mines
were operated last winte rthat they quit the
business.
''If the natural gas plays out, and there is
a doubt in my mind about the shortage re-
ports coming from the officials of the gas
companies, of course the miners will be di-
rectly benefited. 1 think the reports were
sent out to keep the miners from leaving the
business in the hope that times would be-
come better and they would be enabled to
make good wages. The gas rates have been
increased to such an extent that many per-
sons quit using it and are going back to the
use OF coal. think there will be consider
able improvement in the condition of the
miner this year over last winter"
NATURAL GAS PRICES ExoRBITANT.
A representative of j. M. Risher & Co.,
railroad and river operators, said: 1.-THE
Pittsburg retail coal trade will be better
gas was introduced. There is more coal sold
out of the yards in this city, and more de-
mand for it, than at any time last winter.
The CHARTERS Valley Coal Company un-
loaded 10000 bushels, or 20 carloads, last
Saturday and Monday at their yards on the
Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. The coal
men generally expect a larger trade this
winter than they have had for years, and
the miners will reap the benefit of the reac-
ton. 1 do not think there will be much of
a decrease in the trade when the lakes close.
1.-THE demand for coal from smalftowns
within radius of $50 miles, is something
enormous and the price of the proouct is
not taken into consideration at all. 1t is
only question of cars and some manufac
turers would pay anything to get them.
This time last year we couldn't give our
slack away. We are now getting 80 cents
per ton for it at the works and it is scarce at
that. The slack is used for steaming pur-
poses and many manufacturers have become
so disgusted with the action of the natural
gas companies that they have quit taking
the gas and are using coal. This is very
noticeable in Youngstown and that vicin-
ity."
Talks with the retail dealers developed
the fact that thousands of families have dis
continued the use of gas and are laying in a
winters supply of coal. The large opera
tors say this will be a busy season for the
miners