The morning news., 1894-06-02
A GARDEN OF PEACE.
Denial That Alabama Is in a State
of Insurrection

Birmingham, Ala, June 1.-The Age
Herald will print editorially tomorrow
morning the following: "Rumors of
warfare, distress, famine, property des
truction and bloodshed has been circu-
lated by some careless or ire
sponSlble persons; and if these are
allowed to 60 uncOrrected they are calcu-
lated to do serious injustice to this sec
tlon. Even last night rumor was
abroad that there was fighting between
the soldiers and the miners. Ridiculously
absurd. There is no war between them
and will not be. Camp F'orney, where
The Second regiment is located, is per-
feet garden of peace. There the citizen
soldlers-the young and vigorous man
hood of Alabama-are enjoying their
annual season of encampment, and are
receiving careful instruction in the school
of the soldier, and at certain hours revel-
ing in the sunshine afforded by the pres
ence of ladies. Near by may be seen
squads of peaceful but idle miners, who
spend their pastime in witnessing the
drills. The latter speak no words of
harshness and utter not a murmur.
They recognize the fact that
the soldier boys have only responded to
the call of their state Since the encamp-
ment was fully established, peace and
order have prevailed. There has been no
turbulent demonstration, but general
acquiesence in the situation.
''The Age-Herald has carefully investi-
gated the condition of the mining inter
ests and is gratited this morning 70 be
able to present facts and figures which
will no doubt prove surprising TO dis
couraged public at home and a miSin-
formed pablo abroad.
ONLY THE COAL MINERS OUT.
First, let it be born in the mind that
there IS no strike among the iron or rock
miners; that with them all is peace,
quiet, work and pay The following pres
| ent figures as to the present
output of coal in this district have
| been obtained from reliable sources and
show that the product is about 60 per
cent of what it was twelve months ago.
They are given as obtained: Tennessee
Coal, iron and Railroad Company, by CON
victs, 1850, by free labor, 2,5OO Sloss
Iron and Steel Company, by cOnvicts,
800, free labor, 4,725. Total 1000 tons
THE prevailing idea abroad is that in
the midst of labor disturbances the
Birmingham district is solely dependent
upon convict labor, whereas il is plainly
shown above that even now, with the
strike on, less than % per cent. of the
| daily output of coal is the work of con-
victs. The Pratt Mines Company to-day
is operating eight openings by free labor
and two by convicts, though, of course,
these eight have not full force.
NO COAL FAMINE.
''No coal famine exists here. True,
several furnaces are banked. This is
caused not by LACK of coal, but on ac'
count of the low price and the meager de-
mand for iron. This latter is the discour-
aging feature of the situation. Reliable
/ information has been obtained that one
| of the furnace plants now in blast, and
! consuming 1000 tons of coal per day, is
soon to close down on this latter account.
Taking all the facts together, there is
/ nothing alarming In the situation in the
! Birmingham district. The present coal
! supply is adequate for home consumption,
/ and large shipments are being made
abroad. The mining force is being daily
| augmented and peace reigns supreme.
"The Age-Herald proposes from time
| to time to present figures showing mining
operations and progress, and has reason
| TO hope and believe that within few
weeks our general industrial matters will
resume their full normal condition"