Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-13
Bituminoua Coal Famine.

Bituminous Coal Famine.
The sad and far-reaching consequences
Of the strike OF coal-miners In this coun-
try can only be likened to shat STRIKE
which occurred In England year or Two
ago. and which lasted for seven moh'hs
During much OF that time England nad
TO buy her coal in foreign countries "os'
OF 1t was gotten from Germany tno"s"
some was secured In Nova Scotia anu
small quantity In the United states. At
rangemen;s had Just been made Tor large
shipments from this country 10 Ehs'"''"
when the coal operators and operatives
there came 10 terms.
Now. here we are. making ready 10 I'M
port coal from Nova Scotia, one New
York firm having given the Nova oco-
tians an order for loco tons.
1t Is plain that unless an understand
ing is soon reached by which American
miners will return 10 work. we shall be
forced TO import much OF the bituminous
coal necessary TO carry on our Industries
Chicago. New York. Philadelphia. ana
baltimore have nearly exhausted their
supplies.
The Pocahontas Virginia) coal-mines
are as yet unaffected by the strike. ana
are reaping a harvest. we suppose. me
mines In Chesterfield and Henrico NEAR
Richmond are also likewise favored. On
the line Of the Chesapeake and Ohio ROAD
there are some mines at work, but we
suppose that these are hardly able 10 90
more than supply the coal needed by inc
railroad company TO run Its locomotives
At any rate. the supply at Newport News
Is insignificant. Within a few days past
shipments Of Henrico coal have been
made from Richmond to Philadelphia!
A continuance OF estrangement between
employer and employed will work great
hardship TO thousands Of men, women anu
children, who usually find employment III
factories which are now unable 10 III"
because Of lack of coal to make steam
II il almost incredible that many OF these
factories will care 90 send out OF INC
country for coal, since business is duii'
margins OF profit very small, ana t"e
summer (when It Is not expected that
much manufacturing will be done In GER
tain lines) is fast approaching.
This strike. with its comet-like tram
Of evil consequences. is but one OF the
many ill-effects OF delayed action on the
tariff BIZ. The Ohio-riyer coal-barons'
when il seemed certain that coal was
TO be pat upon the free list, ignored their
OBLIGATIONS 10 the general trade ana
threw an immense quantity Of coal upon
the market. Down prices went, OF course
Then nearly everywhere the wages u
miners were reduced. Soon 1t was fouhu
that coal would probably be protector W
the extent Of 40 cents per ton, and prices
etiffcned somewhat Some bosses there
unon advanced wages, but many others
did not. Some Of the miners who mad
been able 10 make terms for themselves
I'm LOYALTY to their brethren who mad Struck
for a restoration or at least readlust-
mon, Of the scale quilted work, ana
hence the strike has overspread vast
extent Of country NeSotIdtiO"7 ''' :"
settlement are now on foot, and we nope
may succeed, but the prospects are not
tiatterlng. Indeed. 1t would seem to be
clearly impossible for satisfactory or
permanent arrangement to be erected
until the tariff bill is passed-untii 1t Is
positively known what import duty Tor
ci,n coal will have to pay in other words
what foreign competition American mine
owners viii have TO meet.
If anything can hurry up the Senate
the distress In the coal-mining regions
and the effect of the miners strike upon
general business ought to do so, but some
times we fear that the senators DO not
read the newspapers or letters from
their constituents. and do not know what
is going on in the business world. Ger
tainly, it seems incredible that lot or
sensible and patriotic men would be will
ing TO fiddle-faddle and dilly-dally with
a great question Ike the tarin' whiie
thousands Of their countrymen were cry
ing out for bread.