Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-17
MINERS WALK OUT.
Negaunee Miners Quit Work and
Threaten to Make Ishpen7-
ing Men Stop.

Negaunee, Mich, July 15.-[Specia1. Ill
A strike which threatens to extend to all
the iron ranges of the Lake Superior dis
trict was inaugurated here today. All
Of the men employed Of the mines in this
city quit work this morning. They had
made a demand for an increase of 10
cents 4 ton on contract price and IL
per cent increase to trammers and other
lab0rerS and this had been refused
After the Walkout this morning about
1000 of the miners marched to Ishpeming.
three miles away, to induce the men en-
plOyed there to walk out. They threat
ened to compel the Ishpeming men to
stop, but thus far the 1shpeming men are
at work and there has been no trouble.
1t is said that as a rule the 1shpeming
men are quite well satisfied and may not
join IN the movement.
There is a wide difference of opinion
here as to whether the men will be sue
cessful. The mine officials say that
while it is true there has been an i'm
provement in the iron market generally.
these conditions have not yet extended
to the mines. Therefore, they claim
that it is impossible for them to make
any increase until this improvement be-
comes apparent here. The wages of all
mine employees were cut 10 per cent. and
in some cases more, with the advent of
the financial troubles two years ago.
This, with the greatly restricted output
and the consequent reduction of forces,
left the miners in bad shape Many of
those here had to apply to the county
for aid to carry them through the winter.
Owing to the fact that the Marquette
range is the oldest and most solid fnan
cialIy the poverty was not so keeIly felt
here as on the newer ranges. There it
became necessary to appeal to the state
at large for help.
The miners contend that there has
been a wage advance in all lines Of the
iron industry except theirs and that sure
ly the employers can find a way to grant
a small increase now. The action of
the Cleveland Cliffs company in volun-
tarily making a raise Of from 10 to 70
cents Il day in wages undoubtedly has
made the miners more firm in their be-
lief that the other companies are equally
able to do likewise. Ishpeming and Ne
gaunee are about the only places on the
Marquette range where any mines are
being wrought. the Republic, Champion
and other mines having been shut down
more than year ago.
Ishpeming. Mich. July 15.-The Cleve-
land-Cliffs Iron Mining company here
raised the wages of its employees from 10
to p cents per day, according to the
former wages paid. This is the first vol
untary increase of the season and was
given because of the improved condition
The mining situation is ct the present
time decidedly misunderstood according
to the most prominent and experienced
mine owners. While the indications this
season have all along been most favor
able to the mining industry, especially
in iron ORE the prices for the output
have been low and are still down as COM
pared with what they were just prior
TO the great collapse and what they
should be nov. The ore being shipped
this season is what was sold last winter
and spring for delivery during The navl-
CATION season of 1895. The prices last
winter and spring were but slightly in
advance of last year, and ore being
mined and delivered at the present time
Is selling at an average OF but ID cents
per ton over last years prices. While lake
freights are somewhat advanced over
those Of last year as a result of the I'M
proved business conditions generally.
This cuts the advance in ore down,
making the real advance very small over
last season. While wages to miners are
better than during the great depression,
they are not what they were before the
decline and cannot be increased until
prices for ere go up, which will undoubt-
eddy be by next winter for next seasons
output. 1t is believed, in view of these
circumstances, and the fact that there is
but little real advance in ore, although
the demand is very fair, that miners are
making a mistake III demanding increased
wages just now and IL striking because
owners are not inclined to pay the ad-
vance, something they would feel in
clined to do by next season Or when bet
ter prices rule. As far as is known min
erS on the other great ranges are satisfied
under the circumstances with the present
wages, hoping for the advance in pay
which must come as soon as the advance
IN prices for the product is realized.