Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-31
THE SKIES BRIGHTER.
The Situation In The COaEFleldS
Steadily Improves.
THE OUTPUT
The Norfolk and Western fr"e'
caIIy ont of the Fight-The "s"e
=. xou st,nd,-GrsduaI with
drnvsI of the Military.

PoCAHoNTAs. VA. May S.-'speclai'
The labor skies in and around Pocahohtas
are brishtepIng each day. Most especially
has this been the case for the last 'hree
davs The strike is evidently broken anu
the onerators who did not cut wages put
whose mines were closed owing to the
general shutdown ordered by La"iesa'
seem TO he getting the best OF 'ne hen''
These mines are the largest III the "hoie
FIat.rop region and by Increasing their
optnuts I, IS now believed that they can
sunnIv the demand II Clinch Valley
succeeds in keeping up the extra iorce
they are now working. The work OF 'ne
six large mines I'm Virginia and west VIZ
ginia practically lets the Norfolk ana
western railroad out Of the fight, and now
the only controversy is between the opera
tors Of the Producers Association VINO
offered their men 20 per cent. reduc-
ton and the miners. OF course the miners
have the sympathy OF everybody, as u
* not believed they can make living
AZ the wages offered by the association.
The operators seem Just as determined
now as when they ordered the reduction.
They claim that they will not start up
"a long as they have 10 pay such exorol-
tsnt freight rates unless the miners are
willing to go to work on the reduction
scale.
A LONG AND BITTER FIGHT.
This fight will probably be long and BIT
tor. with the chances in favor OF the
operators shutting down completely, as IL
IS not believed that the miners VIII ac-
cent the reduction. a large majority OF
these have left the fields 10 return II
matters are satisfactorily adjusted ana
If not adjusted they will remain away
from the Fiat-Top coal region. Many
people believe that lawless is in the
employ Of the operators who made the
general reductions, as they are both work
ing TO the same end-thst OF bringing the
railroad 10 terms or forcing II TO a sale.
All is quiet to-day throughout the entire
region. The four Elkhorn mines at work
are succeeding In increasing their forces
right along Grocer got back seven union
men this morning. a fact which shows
the union men are breaking from Lawless
and union influences. These works are
stll guarded. but not so heavily as here
tofore. Houston got majority OF its
old men back this morning, and Will get
them all by Saturday. Pulaski IS in
creasing right along. and Upland has
nearly doubled yesterdays output. Up
land will import i~ty men from the
Rich Hill furnaces morrow. If the
places OF those are still out are
filled by these mcI .1r old miners viii
have nobody 20 tia.aa but themselves,
as they were notin yesterday that they
must decide. and that quickly. as the
mine was going To- ON their places.
rHfN
advises his followers 10 be pcaceable and
abide by the law, but 1t IS more evident
each day that they are losing confidence
in their leader.
AT POCAHONTAS.
The situation in Pocahontas is steadily
improving. More men go TO work each
day. and new applications come I'm by
the dozens from the old miners. who are
anxious TO return TO work. There seems
10 be a painful lack of organization on
the part Of the strikers here. 1Hey seem 10
be entirely at sea as TO what course
would be best for them to pursue, and
none OF them seem capable Of Offering a
suggestion whereby the question might be
solved. There is a disposition to return
to work on the part OF some who are
afraid 10 pull away from their comrades
At the same time the mines here are
working as many men as before the
strike and getting out just as much coal.
They are loading a hundred cars OF coal
per day. and II is their intention. II pos
sible, TO double their output. Many OF
the old men will not get the most desi-
rable positions In the mines. These will
be given TO the men who have stood by
the operators in this strike More espe-
cially is this true OF BrOwnings mines.
The military is being slowly withdrawn
from Pocahontas, and next week will pro-
badly see the last company leave, as IL
is conceded by all parties that all danger
Of riot and lawlessness has passed The
Blackstone company were relieved to-
day. and Portsmouth Will leave to-mor-
row The detachments Of Howitzers and
| Roanoke Machne-Works Guards may be
kept here until all possible danger OF an
outbreak IS over.
The troops are all anxious to get home
and businessmen seem particularly anX-
| ious for matters 10 settle down. They are
now beginning TO feel the effects OF the
strike more than ever before. The Hun
garians az this point have nearly all gone
back into the mines. only about thirty OF
them being Idle and these will not De
given work. They refuse to leave the
cOmpanys houses. and the necessary law
| ful steps are being taken by the company
10 eject them. The negroes seem TO be
| the most determined OF any OF the
strikers.
The output for to-day is as follows
| Southwest. 96 OF coal and Il OF coke
Browning, u OF coal; on Elkhorn. 30 in
all. making a total OF lj6 cars, and an
| increase over yesterday OF Il cars