The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-07
TBE STRIKE.
The News From the Standpoint of the
Operators.

INC news from the Standpoint of the
Operators.
The strike now on in the Elkhorn
region Is the result Of scheming on the
part of the Norfolk and Western rail-
way, begun over year ago, when the
central mining strikes and coal famines
swept over the country. L. was then
openly charged that President McBride
OF the Mine Workers Union had been
induced by f. ]. Kimball. then presi-
dent, and now one of the receivers of
the Norfolk and Western, to keep the
labor organizations out Of the Flat Ton
region and to allow them to run.
The Norfolk and Western during that
strike shipped more coal than ever be-
fore, the western railroads being COM
PEELED to buy from II at increased prices.
While the road was enjoying the great
coal boom, caused by the famine, and
getting more than before for their coal,
they demanded OF the operators a reduc-
ton from IS to 20 cents. The operators
refused to Put it to 70 cents. but agreed
to let 1t come down to rs cents. This
the road would not accept and the mat
ter hung fire for some time.
Finally, under some clause in the con-
tracts with the railroad the operators
saw their hight to srbitrate ell differ
OhOSo vi uulb d lAQ Anu LQ6 m8LGCr Wa0
laid before board of arbitration that
met in Philadelphia last summer. The
question WAS whether the railroad was
justified in making the demand for a re-
duction on account of the price of coal
in the market at that time. After some
weeks 1T became evident that the
boards award would be against them
and the railroad summarily withdrew
from the arbitration, which action
naturally dumped the whole business.
The result was the road renewed it's
peremptory demands for the reduction
and finally compromise Of 721S cents
was effected, which price rema ined in
vogue until the first part of the present
year, when Mr.. Kimbsll OF the Norfolk
aad Western notified the operators that
another cut had to be made March l.
In the meantime, the railroad went
into the hands OF O receiver and the leg.
islature had passed law forbiddine
railroad companies dealing in coal
or course the Norfolk and Western
went out, and the operators employed
the company's old sale agents, Castner
& Curran, OF Philadelphia, TO csrry on
their business. The question of freight
rates then came into prominence, and
their adjustment from the Flat Top re-
gions TO tidewater. Is the present bone
of contention. The receivers of the
railroad demanded 65 per cent of the
selling price of coal at tidewater, iesvs
ing the operators 80 per cent. which
would yield to the coal companies about
60 cents per ton at the mines.
The mine owners claim they cannot
produce Goa. at this price, and that the
railroad company or its receivers are
not justified in demanding S1.25. having
shipped thousands OF tons at 90 cents,
in some instances rs low as 46 cents.
They have, accordingly, been com PEELED
to close their mines. or reduce wages
greatly, 80 as to meet the price arbi-
trarily fixed by the receivers of the
railroad. They understand that their
employees cannot afford to stand a re-
duc.ion, and have no quarrel with them,
and are interested in compelling the
railroad to carry the coal at such q rate
as will continue to allow them to pay
the old scale of wages and realize 72X
cents on every ton. The miners on
New River are getting SIX cents for
the same coal.-Plttsburg Commercial
Gazette.