The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-05-08
MINERS AL OUT.
The Greatest Strike in Coal Mining in
West Virginia. History OF the TrOub-
lie and What Caused 1t.

WEIGH, W. Va, May , The mi
ners are nearly all out to-day. tits
estimated that less than one thous-
aud are at work in the entire Flat
Top region. At least $1,000 men
are idle, and holding meetings. The
best of order prevails, and no dis
turbance of any kind has occurred
HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.
The Mcdowell Recorder of this
week gives the following very clear
and comprehensive history of the
events leading up to the present
walk-out:
The impending strike throughout
the great "Flat Top" coal-fields is
the chief subject which is claiming
the attention of the people, not only
of the entire coal field, but also of
those beyond its limits who are in
terested in the development of the
coal industry, and those who are
dependent upon the coal for furna-
ces, factories, engines, etc, in fact
the whole business world is watch
ing with great interest the proba-
bilities of a strike.
. Phe proposed reduction of wages
on May 1, caused by the attitude of
the Norfolk & Western Railroad
Company forward the coal opera
tors, in increasing the rate of ton
age, thus compelling them to sell
their product at a lower price; and
by the use electricity for mining the
coal by the Grocer and other COM
panies which greatly facilitates the
work and lessons the expense of
mining, these companies are in a po-
sitiOn to place cheap coal on the
market and the other companies are
compelled to reduce the wages of
the miners in order to meet this
competition.
The miners say they have sub
mitted to reduction after reduction
in their wages until they are now
so small they can scarcely make a
living, and positively refuse to sub
nit to another cut, believing that
"labor is worthy of its hire"
They are thoroughly organized
and are determined to resist any
further decrease of wages and will
stubbornly fight the electric mining
machines and the railroad company
to the bitter end, and unless some
compromise is perfected the great
est strike in the history of the coal
field may be expected.
1t is reported that the Norfolk &
Western Co.'S anticipation of the
strike, which the officials are bound
to know will come if they persist in
their tactics, are storing large
quantities of coal at Norfolk for the
company's use.
By the strike the Norfolk & Wes-
tern railroad will be the greatest
sufferer, for it is a well known fact
that the company is dependent up
on the coal traffic for its existence,
aud with the loss of this source of
revenue it would be unable to meet
its current expenses, and would
have to be sold as the inevitable.
However, it is thought that sale
and reorganization of the road would |
be of great advantage to the public,
and nine tenths of the patrons
would be glad of this end.
The probabilities of the strike has
almost paraIyzed business in this
section, everybody is watching de-
velOpments, and it will be impossi-
bic for business to enjoy a settled
condition until the strike is termin-
ated one way or the other.
The warmest May in the past u
years was in 1887, when the average
temperature was &c degrees. The
coolest Mays 1888, 1891 and 1898
with an average of 80 degrees each.
The highest temperature in that
time was May I, 1894, 90 degrees
and the lowest 81 degrees, May 3,
1885. The average rainfall for this
month has been about Al inches,
but in 1893 it was liz and in 1884
only Z, and at Wanseom in 1889 on
the 29th and Both the rainfall was
nearly A inches in 81 hours. The
average number of clear days has
been 9, partly cloudy u, and cloudy
10. Prevailing winds from south
west.
Thoughts, ideas and notions are
very good and useful. 1t is we'll to
have one thinker with us all the
time. a single idea may and fire
quently does, make our fortune,
notions are whims and freaks of