Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-07-24
BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
Curtailing of Product May Raise
Ore Prices and Wages
as Well.

Ishpeming, Mich, July 20.-[Special. i
The striking miners of Ishpeming and
Negaunee are holding demonstra tons in
Negaunee this afternoon. Speeches are
being made by the strike leaders and
some of the business men are being
heard from, the latter in both cities hay
ing volunteered to assist the strikers in
any way possible. Many have offered to
contribute literally in case the families
of the men are in distress and need help.
Last evening special delivery letters were
sent to the mine representatives in the
city. The messages were cOurteouSly
worded and set forth the wages that the
men desired to obtain. This is the first
formal request that has been made by
the men showing what they desired. The
company agents and superintendent are
holding a meeting this afternoon, but
the result of their conference will prob
ably not be made known unless some
thing definite with reference to the strik-
ers is determined. The mining men have
much sympathy for their employees and
freely state they wish the business would
permit them to give what the men desire.
They regret exceedingly that the request
was not presented before the men went
out.
What the Miners Demand.
The demand of the strikers as present
ed to the companies last night is as fol
lows:
Miners on contract 50; underground labor.
S1.75; surface labor, $150: engineers $40;
brakemen. So 10; pumpmen, 81. 10; iiremen.
drill helpers 81. so; crane men, 50 so; motor
men, 1925; machinists, $3.50; blacksmiths,
s.. 10; helpers, $1.65; carpenters, 1925.
A prominent mining man here says all
contracts for season deliveries Of ore
are made subject to strikes. If by reason
of the latter the companies are unable
to deliver the ore at the stipulated time
then the companies are not bound to
suffer loss. The contract simply becomes
void, the consumers paying for such ore
as has been received If by reason of the
present strike the stockplleS cannot be
supplied this summer then the contracts
will be declared off and in the fall an adj
vanced price for the ore will be obtained,
so that the companies can afford to pay
higher wages. The stoppage of the
mines and shipments would also con-
siGerably curtail the surplus and a short
age at Lake Erie ports would probably
create higher prices, in which event the
companies would profit by the strike
If the strikers were in position to hold
out for three months it would unques-
tionably raise the price of ore and their
wages as well.
Sheriff Broad has been in town several
times this week looking over the situa-
ton. The mining men say they will not
call for assistance from the officers. They
will endeavor to do business on the peace
full plan. Many men are quietly leaving
the city. Trunks are going out OF the
early morning trains and many men are
forgetting to pay their bills. The mer-
chants are complaining bitterly at this
treatment, as they have been carrying the
men to a considera BILE extent
Negaunee, Mich, July 20.-[Special.l j
The men at the Dexter mine, eight miles
IF Tch oj11cr how
strike. They are in sympathy with Ne
gaunee and 1shpeming strikers and have
made no formal demands to their employ
ers. They were yaited upon by a commit
tee from the strikers here and went out
without notifying the officials of the mine
The company has agreed TO give them an
advance in case the strikers here are
granted raise. The strikers here asked
the Champion mine men to come out
but the latter have refused.