The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-12
-Four Hundred Thousand Will Quit
Their Work Today.
MINERS ON VACATION TO CORNER
THE SPECULATORS.

Unprecedented Figures Gas Companies
Arrange to Import Their Supplies
Famine Already Growing Acute.
LONDON, March 1.-THE miners move
ment for the stoppage of work, which
will culminate tomorrow, began today
on the part of the Durham miners, who
commenced removing their tools from
the mines. The movement in Durham
is not only a part of the general stoppage
of work, but also includes a strike
against a 10 per cent. reduction of wages
which was to go into effect tomorrow.
The Durham miners are about 5000 in
number. The action Of the Durham
miners places some of the owners in a
critical situation. The latter had de-
sired to retain certain men whose services
were considered necessary for compliance
with the Mines Regulation Act, and so
that when the stoppage should be over
the mines should be reopened within a
reasonable time. The miners, however,
prevented this by requiring every man to
hand in his notice. This, it is feared,
may result in number Of
Col1ieries Being Drowned Out
or otherwise so damaged that they may
never be reopened. 1t is computed that
100000 miners will be idle tomorrow.
This excludes the 10000 miners who re-
fuse to come into the movement.
The coal famine is growing more acute,
especially in the manufacturing districts.
As showing the effects Of the present
position at the great iron works of the
Stavely Coal and Iron Company, where
there are about 10000 filters and laborers
employed, it may be stated that the out
put of the company's mine reaches
about $4,000 tons week. The furnaces
of the iron works alone consume about
1000 tons weekly, and it is believed that
if weeks stoppage takes place the COM
pany will have to put them out, because
the quantity of coal in stock will not be
sufficient to meet requirements. In view
of this expected dilemma the men en-
ployed in the iron works recognize that
if the stoppage lasts more than week
their
Services Will Not Be Required
before it is over. One of the largest coal
factors in London who has been in the
trade for the last forty years stated this
morning the fact of the Durham miners
who have a union, of their own, having
practically joined hands with the Miners
Federation, makes matters serious. In
deed, under these circumstances, and
Judging from his experience and knowl-
edge of the trade, he would not be sur
prised tie see coal rise to price unpre-
cedented in the history of the trade. The
London gas companies have made ar
rangements to obtain a supply of coal
from abroad if necessary. During the
past few days agents have been sent to
the principal coal fields of Belgium and
Germany to negotiate for the sale and
transport of some thousands of tons of
coal to be delivered in London on given
dates. The greater portion of this coal
will be brought into the Thames by
British vessels, contracts to that effect
having been already concluded.
The Miners Federation has issued
manifesto which says that all
Members Must Stop Work
tomorrow, except a few surface men,
water bumpers and ventilator attendants.
No coal must be raised from the shafts.
The manifesto adds: ''We expect the
outside districts to remember that the
members of the Miners Federation are
taking holiday for the sole purpose of
clearing the markets of surplus coal
which has been used by spectators in a
system of unfair trading, closely akin to
gambling. We trust our action will not
only avert menaced reductions in our
wages, but those threatened in the wages
of Scotch, South Wales and Northumber-
land miners" The manifesto entreats the
men employed in Scotland, South Wales
and Northumberland, none of whom be-
long to the Miners Federation, they hav-
ing associations of their own, not to
work during the strike more than four or
five days week.