The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-01
FLAT TOP MINERS STRIKE.
Fifteen Thousand Went Out
Yesterday,
Embracing All the Underground EN-
pioyes of the Flat Top Coal Region,
Except 1900 Employed by the South
west Virginia Improvement Company
and the Mines at Pooahontas-Reduc.
tion of Wages the Causo.
Special to THE TIN Es.

PocaaeNHAs7.Nas,~A Fifteen
thousand coal miners employed along
the Ohio extension Of the Norfolk and
Western railroad went out on a strike
ct noon to-day. The men include all
the underground employees in she Flat
Top coal region, with the exception of
eighteen hundred men employed by the
Southwest Virginia Improvement Com
pany and the Browning mines at Poca-
hontas. The Immediate cause OF the
walk-out was the posting of notices by
the operators OF twenty per cent. %
ducsion in wages, to take effect the first
day OF May. This notice was posted by
all the operators in the Elkhorn region,
with the exception of the Grocer, Hous-
ton and Upland operators.
It was st frat given out thatA Gil the
men would not join in the strike, but
later in the day the whole region went
out. 1t Is stated by persons in posi-
ton to know that the majority of the
operators are In sympathy with the
strikers, and made the cut in wages for
the purpose Of bringing the men out.
Ifthis be their object in go doing IL was to
compromise the Norfolk and Western
Railroad Company to make terms as to
cars, which the operators In question
have been demanding. for long time.
the said operators claiming that the
cars furnished to this region were not
distributed upon an equitable basis, and
charging that favoritism WAS being
shown towards the Southwest Virginia
Improvements Company, the Browning
Mines, the Grocer, Upland and Houston
operators.
The striking miners claim to be in q
position to maintain the strike for an
indefinite length Of time, should It be
necessary in order 60 bring 1t to q suo-
cessful issue. The United Mine Work.
ers OF America are fairly we'll organized
throughout the region and 1t ia stated
on good authority that Secretary Nc
Bride will be In the field in few hours
to take active management Of the az.
fairs of the striking miners and that
the men will demand an increase in the
wages heretofore paid by the operators
and that the rules as to weighing dock
age and such other questions as have
generally caused grievances to the
miners be settled on fair basis to the
employees.
It Is reported that the strikers Will
SSsSoi Nv w AOASO sAO HUH plOY0u DIV
the Browning and the Southwest Com
pany at this place to come out. II such
should be the case there Is little doubt
that there will be serious trouble. The
Norfolk and Western Railroad Company
have heavy guards at all the bridges,
trestles and tunnels along it's line, and
will use every endeavor to prevent vic.
lence to It's property. Everything is
quiet throughout the region so far as
could be learned to- night;but the most
conservative look upon the situation as
being serious one, and believe that
serious trouble may be expected at any
time.
Rumors of the approaching strike
were current on the streets of Roanoke
yesterday, but no definite inform alton
reached the city until the above dis
patch was received by THE TIMES.
The Norfolk and Western railroad
officials in the city when seen last
evening were somewhat apprehensive
Of the result, but were under the inn
preston that the troubles would soon
be adjusted and that the coal traffic
would continue as heretofore.
Very few empty coal cars were sent
west yesterday over the Norfolk and
Western railroad as it was not consid
cred advisable TO have the tracks and
sidings in the region of tho coal fields
crowded.