Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-11
All the Barges and Light Coal
Boats Sent to the South
ern Markets.
HEAVYTOWS COULD NOT GO
The Logstown Dixie to Be Built on
Major Stickney's Plan.
MINERs' STRIKE MAY END SOON.
Carnegie Not Connected With the Zig
Iron Mill Combine.
HAPPENINGS IN LOCAL LIBoR CIRCLES

The rivermen were strictly in their ele-
ment yesterday, while the operators were
knee-deep in work All was hustle on the
wharf on Water street, and apparently
there was not an unoccupied man about the
river A constant stream of river captains
and messengers scurried in and out of the
coal Offices receiving final instructions for
the departure of the towboats down the
river. The early morning hours saw
the departure of most of these boats
though they kept departing until late in
the afternoon. The marks at the Davis
dam registered eight feet five inches, which
fully met the expectations of the rivermen,
and everv boat possible was taken out The
water was not high enough for a heavy
shipment of coal boats, though large num-
Der of light boats, besides barges, went to
the Southern markets.
The Point was the rallying place of the
fleets, and during the day the river in this
neighborhood presented an animated ap-
pearance. The channel was practically
blOckaded for long time. :
Keeping the Pilots Busy.
As the steamers with their tows cleared
the shore and swung into mid stream many
collisions were narrowly ayerted. The
shrill whistle of the tugs as they glided
about between the heavily loaded barges of
coal was blended with the hoarse toots of
the towboats, and together they kept up a
deafening din. None Of the boats could
leave without a parting blast, which was
taken up and answered by those still tied
to the wharf, and together they made the
valley of the Monongabela echo as it has
not done for a year, because the open
ing of the coal boat season is always an
event of more than usual interest among
the rivermen.
All the big operators sent out more or
less coal. Some had little loaded on &C
count of the strike along tine river These
had sent out the coal they had loaded on
the last rise in July, and the strike being
declared soon after left them with little on
hand. Others had nearly all their barges
loaded. and made every effort to get them
all out. The rule of this rise was light
tows, as very few of the steamers took the
full number of bGrges they are capable of
handling.
Millions of Bushels Sent Out.
In all, between 200 and 800 barges and
coal boats were taken to the markets of
Cincinnati and Louisville. 1t is estimated
there were between Q, 500, 600 and 1000, 600
bushels. There still re main in the harbor
about l, 600, 900 bushels which are loaded on
heavy coal boats and could not be moved for
lack of water.
The coal shippers say there is not an
urgent demand for coal in the Southern
markets, as during the past FIVE months of
low water the railroads have oeghn to ship
coal in large quantities. This has kept
down the price, SO that coal at Cincinnati
was selling at ~ cents last week, and yes
terdav when barge water was assured IL
would not bring more than z cents, with
the prospects of an early drop to 61z cents
q bushel. This is lower than it is known to
have sold at the opening of the season for
years and the coal men take discouraged
view of the outlook.
Rumors of all kinds were afloat on Water
street about the miners strike. Whenever
the operators met in any of the offices, 1t
came up for discussion and the possible
effect of the rise was considered from every
side with the result that no matter where
thev started the strike would finally be won
by the operators.
How the Coal shippers Argue.
The low price of coal rendered it impossi-
BILE to pay on the 81 cent basis, and should
the miners not return at the reduction no
more coal would be moved this year. This
was the way shippers argued and
next Wednesday the strike would
be thing of the past, to prove that they
were right. The general belief prevailed
Yesterday in the offices that the strike
would be over by the end of next week.
There were no reports from the pools that
the miners had signified their willingness
to go back to work at that time.
The efforts of the Coal Exchange to have
their plan as to the building of the Logs
town dixie adopted in preference to that of
Major Stickney seem to have been unsuc-
cessful. 1t was reported yesterday that the
department at Washington, after fully con-
sidering the two plans, had approved those
of the Major, and instructed him TO build
the dixie as be desired.
The Coal Exchange Snubbed.
The Coal Exchange has been taking
very active part in having their ideas as to
how this work should be done put into ap-
pIication, and had most earnestly protested
TO the authorities at Washington to have
the old dixie rebuilt. Major Stickney
wanted new method adopted, as he con-
sidered the old plan too antique and
unsuited to the present requirement
of navigation on the Ohio The |
rocky nature of the river bed
at Iogstown rendered the successful
operation ofhis plan doubtful and did not
satisfy the rivermen as to the advisability
of its adoption. A conference was held
last week with the rivermen, but no better
understanding was reached, so that close
upon its conclusion the announcement
comes that the plan of Major Stickney's
plan had been approved. Much dissatis-
faction is expressed among the operators at
the turn things have taken, as they were
led to believe that their efforts would be