The evening world., 1894-05-28
NINE OWNERS LOSING
Southern Operators Getting Con-
troll Pennsylvania Business.
Prices Of Hard Coal May Be Raised
Tomorrow.
No Resumption Yet Reported in the
Clearfleld Region.
(By Associated Press.)

PHILADELPHIA. May 2s.-This Is
the day fixed upon by the BIZ
luminous coal mine operators in the
Cleerield and allied districts of Central
Pennsylvania for the resumption of work
in the mir es. So far as heard from
there has not been any resumption;
neither has there been any trouble Of
any sort. AS predicted by men In a posi-
ton to know, when the operators, on
Monday last. issued their ultimatum OF
~ cents a ton, the strikers have re-
maine away from the mines. n the
commencement OF the sixth week Of
their strike finds them apparently as
determined as ever to await the orders
OF President Mcbride. of the United
Mine Workers. before resuming.
Meanwhile the coal situation, as far
as this region Is concerned. grows more
serious every day. Soft coal is extreme
ly scarce. and operators are compelled
to pay almost exorbitant prices in order
to fill their contracts. Agents who are
lucky enough to have control of coal are
making profits Of from 81 to $3.50 a ton.
whereas 10 cents was considered a fair
profit before the coal famine set in.
Another serious result OF the strike that
promises to be more lasting In its effect
Is the permanent loss of business, be-
cause. of the inability of operators to full
fill old contracts or enter into new ones.
The regions that compete directly with
the central Pennsylvania bituminous
miners are the Cumberland. in Mary
land, the West Virginia fields, n the
P~ocohontas. in Southwestern Virginia.
Information from the Cumberland re-
gion is to the effect that men are going
to work every day and coal Is being
turned out rapidly. Evidence of this
Is seen In the releasing by the Baltimore
b been o ao1es RailsSad a1 o5 f fSe S Shish had ID
Cumberland coa in portions OF the East
that hitherto depended entirely upon
Central Pennsylvania for soft coal.
berland miners to work is sale to be the
GUS strike SECURED. IN ls speA the e't ciear.
they are now settling the old score.
In the ~Pocohantas region the mines
and men are being worked to their ut
most capacity The Norfolk and West;
the locomotives and cars they can get
from Southern railroads, and is at the
present time rushing coal into Norfolk
at an u~npreeedented rate. From Nor,
points on the New England coast. Com
paratively little Of 1t reaches New York,
for the reason that since the coal goes
by water 1t costs very little to carry II
further along the coast, and the prices
obtained in New England is much
better.
The activity of the Pocohontas opera
tors and the general resumption in the
Cumberland region Is a bitter pill fol
the Pennsylvania operators to swallow,
The coal mined by them is brought in
direct competition with the Pennsylvania
coal, and yet the miners employed by
the latter ask for wages at the rate OF
so cents a gross ton. whereas the Cum,
berland miners work for 40 cents a ton
and the Pocahontas men, mostly ne.
groes, receive only 25 cents a ton. OF
60 ner cent. less.
While the scarcity of coal continues
the producers and shippers Of anthra'
cite are reaping a harvest. Shipments
have increased enormously, and It Ii
probable that the coal sales agents a.
their regular monthly meeting in New
York tomorrow, will advance the price
On all sizes at least 25 cents a ton. Il
IL expected that a large proportion OF
the ffty-two collieries controlled by thu
Reading Railroad. which were drowned
out" last week. will resume work In 6
day or two. They will be worked ter
hours a day for some time to come.