Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-05-27
THE DEARTH OF COAL.
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS GENER-
ALLY FEELING TIE SCARCITY OF FUEL
About Six Thousand Men Idle In This Immediate
Vlcinity-fhs Electric Light Plant Embar-
rassed-Notss from Various Plants
and Factories.


is costing both manufacturers and
workmen good many dollars, through
out this section.
Over three thousand employees OF
manufacturing plants, and probably
seven hundred and fifty miners, In
Wheeling and vicinity, the former
mostly on the West Virginia side Of the
river, are idle, while in Belmont and
Jefferson counties, over the river, some
thing like two thousand more miners
are doing nothing. Combining these
classes you have about six thousand
idle men, because OF the coal strike,
within less than fifteen miles Of the
Wheeling City Hall.
The loss in wages is thus enormous,
and the effect upon business generally
is far reaching and disastrous. Retail
trade Is effected, which In turn affects
the jobbers and wholesalers; while
manufacturing firms which would other
wise run full force, are either COM
PEELED to lie wholly idle, or run at spas
modic intervals with an irregular force.
Both the city and the Wheeling electric
light plants have difficulty in procuring
coal, and should the efforts OF
the miners TO close down the mines
in the Fairmont and Monongah
regions succeed, the thing will entirely
pass the limits of joke, and become
most serious business for this entire
community. Even now, the scarcity OF
coal recalls the dearth OF fuel 10 the
Eastern cities, In 1864, when the comic
papers quoted coal above gold, and SUCH
legends as ~ have no pennies, take a
lump OF coal" and "Give US two cock
tails, here's lump OF coal!" were at
tached to pictures OF retail business
places and saloons, In the illustrated
journals.
In addition to the news in our indus
trial and local columns, Of the situation
at particular plants, the following
specific information is gIven:-
Several freight crews on the w. q l..
E. railway complain that their trains
are stoned By striking coal miners at
Dillonvale. These freights are carry
ing West Virginia non-union coal TO the
lakes. The trainmen express them
selves as apprehensive.
President Patrick McBryde, OF the
Mine Workers, has issued circular
letter deploring the violence used over
the country by the striking miners. He
says In part:
LET it be understood that every
miner who advises or participates In un-
lawful methods, brings discredit upon
as and aids the operators"
In this district, the First OF West
Virginia, there has not yet been an I'M
lawful act committed ty the seven hun
dred striking miners.
Mills A and C of the Riverside plate
mill will be kept in operation about two
DAYS this week, -hen shutdown will
be necessary, owing to the scarcity OF
materials. Mills B and d are idle as
result Of the strike.
Fifteen more carloads OF coal were
received yesterday at the Riverside iron
works from the Fairmont region.
Miller Bros, OF the South Side, re-
port that they can get enough coal now
to insure the steady running OF their
works.
Slack is being mixed with coal from
the Fairmont region for fuel at the
power house Of the street car company.
1t is thought the power house can be
kept in steady operation.
Last evening the works OF Bloch
Bros, on the South Side, were shut
down until next Thursday. The want
of coal is the main cause OF the shut
down. About two hundred workmen
are idle.
Some time ago the sheet department
OF the Top mill was closed down by rea-
son of the scarcity of coal. Fuel in
abundance can now be gotten from the
Fairmont region and this department,
employing about seventy-fiVe men, will
go on next Tuesday. A steady run for
a week at least Is promised.
The Wheeling steel works closed down
last evening. 1t Is thought they will
resume next Tuesday morning. The
cause is the want of coke.