The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-05-30
nuslness Paralxzed ny tne strIke.

Business ParaIyzed BY the Strike.
The great bituminous coal strike which
began on April q has reached that stage
where vast business interests in many
States are crippled seriously. Fully
l75l 900 miners are idle in II States and
two Territories. About 1900 miners
are at work.
Not only have the miners begun to
suffer privatiou, provoking them TO not
in several States, chiefly Illinois, Penn
sylvania and Alabama, but railroads,
mills and even office buildings have
been so affected that thousands of other
men are without work, and the business
world, especially in the central West,
sees before it an immediate struggle for |
existence.
Within a week the stock Of bitumi-
nous coal on hand will probably be ex-
hausted.
1t is doubtful if this country ever ex-
perienced so large and so important a
strike. If not settled soon its effects
must be far reaching.
Already the earnings of the railroads,
notably in Pennsylvania, have been re-
dueed most seriously, and soon the car
rying capacity of the roads will be i'm
paired.
The miners will not yield, they say,
until uniform rate Of 70 cents ton IS
established throughout the country.
Many, and perhaps a majority, of the
operators were willing to give this, but
they have not been able to come TO such
an agreement, and another conference is
to be held in Springfield, Ill. Little is
expected from it.
Violence in Illinois and Alabama has
been of such a character that State
troops have been ordered out, and are
in active service. Governor Pattison, OF
this State, has addressed the mass meet
ing at one place, and cautioned the men
against violence, so that he will not feel
it necessary to order out the troops.
IDLE ARMY N THIS STATE.
PrrrsBURG, Pa, May 27.-The close of
the fifth week of the coal strike and the
eighth week Of the coke strike finds the
vexed question still unsolved, as how to
settle or break the conflict. In the Pitts
bug district, embracing the river and
coal and coke regions, idleness still reigns
supreme. In those three sections there
are about 81, 700 men idle, giving 10000
or IS 600 to the coke region, 1900 10 the
river mines, and $3.50 to the railroad
mines.
The coke strike was not authorized by
the National Organization of the United
Mine Workers. All, however, are united
in fighting in a common cause for better
wages. The strike leaders lost control of
the men and the various outbreaks Of
violence and lawlessness which the min
| ing regions have witnessed have militat-
ed seriously against Their chances Of sue
cess. The killing of Superintendent Pad
DOCK, the repeated scenes Of mob violence
and intimidation of workmen, and the
recent bloody battle at the Washington
Run Mines, have all hurt their cause and
lost to them much of the sympathy
which they would have otherwise profit
ed by. Their chances for obtaining the
success they desired and struck for is not
strong at present. It is possible, how
ever, that a partial compromise may be
forced on both sides.
GREAT MILLS SHUT DOWN.
The Pittsburg operators will make theiT
first united effort toward settling ol
breaking the great coal striks in this dis
/ trict this week. There are indications ol
an attempted compromise. The Ed
, gar Thomson Company steel plant
with the exceptions oftwo blast furnaces
has suspended operations. 1t had a regular
mountain of coke to begin with, bat 1t re
quires about 40 cars of coke day TO op
, crate the plant, and the supply is ex
hausted. The Duquesne Steel Works il
. the latest to shut down. Manufacturer
are experiencing the greatest difficulty t
l | secure fuel. Some that are running have
t had to pay enormous prices to get Goa
5 with which tocomp'ete important orders
The railroads are badly hurt, the Penn
r sylvania being especially short of fuel
l tits economizing in fuel in every pos
: sible way, and is driyen to extraordinary
7 straits in conducting its business. Th'
glass manufacturers are also feeling th'
coal famine This thing ramifies dowl
through all branches oftrade. Even tn
washerwoman, who now pays II or /
cents a Dushel for coal, instead of 8 or
1 cents, as formerly, feels the situation, ant
Y raises her prices. The situation is sucl
C that some, particularly certain labor lead
2 ers, desire Congressional probing int
/ the miners strike.