The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-02
WEST VIRGINIA'S MINE WAR.
FULLY 10000 MEN OUT ALONG THE
NORFOLK AND WESTERN.

The Operators Claim They We're
Forced to Reduce the Pay of the
Miners on Account of a New Scale
for Handling the Coal Fixed by
the Selling Agents-rhe Railroad
officials Predict an Early ADJUST
ment.
Huntington. w. Va, May 1.-Develop-
ments in the mine strike in the Pocahontas
region and along the Norfolk and Western
to-day show every mine, over thirty in
number, in practical idleness. and fully
1000 men on strike. The miners in the
Kanawha valley have been working short
hours and have not Joined the strike but
will do so if an attempt is made to fill
any orders for POcahonta operators.
There has been no roiting.
Pocahontas, Va. May There are no
new developments in the field to-day
Everything is perfectly quiet with the
probability that nothing of interest will
take place before Sunday, and all of the
West Virginia miners Of the Flat Top
mines are out, the Southwest Company
and the Browning mines at this place
being the only ones in operation in the
field. A committee of strikers will make
an appeal to the miners here by printed
circulars asking them to stand by the
strikers by stopping work and thus pre-
vent the reduction of 20 per cent posted
by the operators. The Southwest Com
pany is preparing to open tha West mine,
which has been closed down for year or
two and to work it along with the East
mine.
Soon after the Norfolk and Western
went into the hands of receivers, the Poca-
hontas Coal Company was succeeded as
agents for the Flat Top operators by Cast
ner & CuIran and a new adjustment of the
terms by which the coal was handled was
made necessary. At a meeting of the
was decided to accept the proposition Of
fered. This the operators claim, made 1t
necessary to make the 20 per cent. reduc-
tion in the rate for mining.
great part of the traffic of the Norfolk
and Western is the shipping of coal, and
the strike which has practically suspended
operations in the Flat Top regions, will
seriously affect the traffic Of the road If ii
is kept up. The Norfolk and Western Off
cials are not apprehensive Of serious
trouble and express the belief that the
matter will be adjusted in a short time.
In the meantime, precautions are being
taken for the protection of the property
OF the road and but few empty cars are
being returned to the mines James b.
Stevenson of the Roanoke Coal and Coke
Company denies the report in last nights
dispatch that the operators are in SYM
pathy with the strikers.
Norfolk, Va, May 1.-The strike now on
IN the mines of the Flat Top region has
put a stop to the loading of vessels at
Lamberts Point with coal, thus causing
about 200 men to be thrown out of work
at the piers, and delay in the loading
OF the thirteen schooners at anchor near
that point, which are already chartered.
some OF these vessels may cancel their
charters and seek cargoes at other ports.
Lynchburgh, Va, May Especial from
Elkhorn, w. Va, to the News says: "At
frFl1 min N,af
They We're addressed by ]. W. Lawless
OF the Mine Workers Union, Mr.. Nc
Bride falling to appear as expected. He
was reported poisoned at 2 hotel while
on his way here. Nine hundred new men
entered the union at Keystone last night.
Tomorrow special train will carry the
operators of this region to Roanoke to
confer with the railroad officials 1t is
really strike against the Norfolk and
western Tor better shipping rates. OPP
position is developing. against the intro
duction of machines. into the mines
Guards are watching the trestlee and tun-
nels on the. road and tipples and drift
been no violence, rumors are afloat that
cause apprehension. There was much
drlnking In the meeting al Keystone to-
oay that was not conducive to peace.
To-day there are threats to cut up the
railroad. All the empty cars We're taken
out to-day. Sunday is set for an immense
meeting at Pocahontas.
Roanoke, Va, May IA prominent Flat
Iop operator was here to-day and in an
IuleINleW SAID that there are not more
lhan lUVOO miners on a strike in that re
Sloh. Inc hve mines at work employ small
forces and use electrical machinery, which
Is a great labor saver There is bitter
ieellng among the miners because of the
introduction of this machinery. The op-
orator said that under the present freight
agreement they get only sixty-five cents
per ton above the freight out Of which
TO pay all the expenses Of mining.
Col William Lamb of Norfolk, who at
tended the meeting of the Norfolk and
Western stockholders here to-day, said
IN an interview that the reduction of the
tariH on coal is the cause of the strike.
Charleston, w. Va, May Limited
States Marshal A. d. Garden, who is here
attending the United States court, to-day
received telegram asking for protection
IN the Bluefeld coal region from strikers.
GOV McCorkle of West Virginia has been
asked by the governor of Virginia to al
low troops to pass through the state en-
route to that part of the Flat Top coal
nelds which lies in Virginia. Serious
trouble is expected.
Richmond Va, May 1.--Arrangements
nave been made by which the military
mere can be gotten under arms immediate
~ should their services be needed in the
rat Top coal region. There is no infor-
nation to the effect that they will be
needed but precautionary steps have been
nevertheless taken. An understanding is
Sald to exist by which Virginia and West
sary.
uTTNnVS NryNEnS