Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
0UTOF WORK
When the Proposed Fortnight's Strike
of British Miners Is On.
FABULOUS PRICES ARE EXPECTED
Providing Coal Famine Can Be Produced
by the Move.
VERY HARD ON OTHER woRKINGMEN

LONDON, March 2.-As the time ap-
proaches for the Inauguration of the So
called strike of the coal miners, who, on
March IL, will quit work for two weeks,
with the object of compelling such an ad-
vance in the price of coal as will prevent
the mine owners from reducing wages, the
effect of the movement can be more readily
gauged.
1t would be an impossible task to approx
mately estimate the number of persons who
will be thrown out of work by the closing
of mills, iron works, factories, ETC., but it is
certain over 100000 employees will find
themselves idle. With their families, 1t is
believed that close to 5000, 600 persons will
directly or indirectly feel the effects of the
attempt of the miners to prevent any re-
duction in their wages. OF the miners them
selves, $780, 900 men will take part in the
strike.
Far-Reaching Eject on Other Trades.
The outcome is watched with more than
| usual the interest that pertains to labor
movements, for the attempt is on such
gigantic scale that everybody who uses
coal will be compelled to pay tribute in the
form of increased prices, or, in the case of
manufacturers, close down their works and
lose the profits of their business. At Shelf
field the rolling mills and the Forgers and
Tillers' Associations announce that works
will be closed during the miners strike.
This decision affects thousands of cutters,
grinders and forgers.
All of the employees of the engineering
works, iron foundries and wagon building
works connected with Lord Durham's and
Lord Londonderry's eollieries have given
notice that those works will also be closed.
Seven thousand railway employees con-
nected with the collieries will also be thrown
out of work.
The pIice of coal in the Sheffield district
has risen shillings ton. InDublin there
has been still further increase, and the
price is now up 4 shillings ton.
Prices Bounding Upward Already.
The excitement continues at the Coal Ex-
change, due to the rapid advance in the
prices Of coal and the uncertainty as to the
point values will reach. Prices took another
upward bound to-day, the advance amount
ing to shillings ton. In the towns in the
northern part of England prices have risen
shillings ton since Saturday.
OF course the worst sufferers are the very
poor people, who are compelled to buy their
coal supplies in very small quantities. At
the prices now demanded it is impossible
for many of this class to supply their wants,
and there is, consequently, much suffering.
1t is claimed by many persons that there is
no good reason for the advance in prices;
that there is sufficient coal mined and being
mined to supply the requirements for
short time, and that the sudden and alarm
ing leaps in;;values are due entirely to specu-
lators, who wish to dispose Of their cheaply
bought stocks at famine prices
No Near Prospect of a Famine.
The miners are, as yet, working as usual,
and the usual output is reaching the mar
ket The strike does not begin for ten days.
The total supply in sight is not positively
stocks on hand and to be acquired before
the miners stop work, which can be added
to by imports from Germany, Belgium and
France, there is no positive danger that a
coal famine will be caused by the proposed
two weeks cessation from work
It is also thought If the only object of the
so-called strike is to make the public pay q
price that will warrant the mine owners
paying the present rate Of wages to
the miners that end has been
attained if the mine owners are
reaping the benefits of the enhanced rates
now ruling. An advance of four shillings
q ton in one day, in addition to the other
previous advances, is something phenom-
email, and allows of a margin of profit sufi-
cient to guarantee the maintenance of wages.
The mine owners i'll Lanarkshire have
notified the men in their employ that if they
strike none of them will be taken back e1-
cept at a reduction in their wages. A con-
ference was held to-day between the mine
owners of Durham and the miners, but it
failed to bring about an understanding be-
tween the employers and the employees