The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-07-20
HIGHER WAGES.
Demanded by the Miners OF the
Marquette Range.
$500 Men Are" "Out' and All Mining
Operations and ore Shipments
Have Been Suspended.


and III the mines at Ishpeming aud Ne
glunea are idle. The miners have
stopped the men on the steam shovels
from loading ore and arc determined
that no ore shall be shipped.
About 1000 men from Negaunec and
lshpeming held u secret meeting at the
driving park midway between the two
places Monday morning. They decided
10 hold out as long az possible and mo-
lest all who dared Co resume work. Com
mittecs were appointed TO wait on the
officials of the companies. submitting
propositions Tor higher pay. They de-
rnand So % day Tor miners, S1.75 for
trammers aud other underground labor
ers and 81 30 FOR all surface hands. Re-
porters were refused admittance. IL is
the intention 10 make the strike general
throughout the county. At the con-
clusion OF the meeting the men marched
to Negaunee. After stopping all work
there, they marched, over 2 900 strong,
tolshpeming and immetlia tely proceeded
Co the mines, where they compelled the
steam shovel hands to quit work.
Tuesday morning the men gathered
mt the pnrk again and another mass
meeting was held The gathering was
much larger than that oi the preceding
day, there being about 5000 men pres
ent. None but miners were admitted.
Several others who tried Co gain admis-
sion were refused. Those miners who
were suspected OF not being in favor OF
the strike were also denied admission To
the park, and those who attempted 10
offer suggestions contrary TO the action
already taken were ushered from the
ground. On Monday il looked as though
the strikers would not hang together,
but the situation at present il quite to
the contrary. All manner of work save
the operation OF the pumps at all the
mines i'm both cities has been suspended.
Tile ore trains on the Northwestern
and South Shore lines have been can
celled aud no attempt TO load cars Is
being made.
The mine officials held a meeting
Wednesday morning and decided 10 close
down all work indefinitely. No attempt
will be made TO start the steam shoyels.
The mine managers assert that they will
give the men all thctilne they desire to
arrange their affairs and that they do
not propose to concede To their
demands.
Cleveland despatch OF June 18th
says: "The miners strike on the Mar
qiiette range is becoming quite "A serious
| factor in the lake trade. Actual charters
from Escanaba are being CANCELLED,
shippers refusing To guarantee loads
when the boats arrive at Marquette and
Escinabn. Yesterday the officers OF the
iron mining companies believed that the
newspaper reports OF the strike were
exaggerated, but today they frankly
admit that the situation is serious.
The strike has stopped all talk OF AN
advance IN iron ore rates from the head
OF Lake Superior"
4 uAl. .ttp,La L. nr ourt.rfoa % s,arof
people, hut rather an occurrence that
has been anticipated by many Tor some
months past. IL Is the natural sequence
ef law wages and discnnient For the
last two wears the miner who has
worked at all has worked for wage too
low To permit 81 even a cOmforta bile
living. The late bright feature of the
iron market, and promises OF further
increase la the price of iron, has imbued
the miner with the conviction that an
Increase of wages is his just due, aud II il
IL possible Tor the mine owner 10 grant
the same, IL certainly IL his due. Prices
ON iron have climbed considerably in the
last few months, but the wage scale has
remained almost the same. II, on the
other hand, existing conditions prevent
the mine operator from paying better
wages. the strike can accomplish nothing
but evil for all concerned, as II will
certainly retard the prosperity which
seemed, in measure, about to return
To the iron regions.
Press dispatches from which theabove
is cleaned, also brings the information,
favorable Co the strikers, that they arc
Conducting themselves In an orderly
manner aud although special police have
been provided in each city, no arrests
have thus far been made. business Is az
siandstill, and the outcome is
anxionsly awaited. IL u estimated that
there are fully 5000 men now out 81
employment in Negaunee and Ishpeming,
not mine being operated Ia either city.
Dock hands and ore trimmers. at Mar
qnctto and Escanaba, are also idle in
consequence oI the non-shipment OF ore.