The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-05-04
gpttial ptpa.eA o tAe Inleuictnotr.

cpeciN DL1rd'e1 10 me I1leligtheeT.
CHARLESTON, May 3.-According to
the statement OF n well posted coal man
In this city, tho strike now on In tho
EIkhorn region Is tho result OF scheming
on the part OF tho Norfolk & Western
railway, begun oyor year ago, when
tho general mining strike aud coal fam
Inc swept over tho country. It was
then openly charged that President
Mcbride. Of tho Mine Workers Union,
had been induced by F. J. Kimball,
then president, and now ono OF the re-
ceivers, Of the Norfolk & Western. to
keep the labor organizations out OF the
Flat Top region and to allow'them to
run, for which, the charges wore, Nc.
Bride received substantial com npelsa.
tion. The Norfolk & Western during
that strike shipped more coal than ever
before, tho western railroads being
compelled to buy from It ut increased
prices. While the road WAS enjoying the
great coal boom, caused by the famine,
their. coal, they demanded OF the opera.
tora reduction from s. to 70 cents.
Tho operators refused to put 1t at 70
cents, but agreed to 10. i. como to rs.
This the road would not accept. and the
matter hung fire for somo time.
DUMPED THE ARBITRATION.
Finally, under some clause in the con.
tracts with the railroads, the operators
saw their right to operate all differences
OF this kind. and the matter was laid
before board OF arbitration that mot
in Philadelphia las. summer. The ques-
ton was whether the railroad was iusti.
fed at that timo in making tho demand
Tor reduction on account OF the price
OF coal in the market at that timc.
After some weeks IL became evident
that tho boards award would be against
them and tho railroad sunmarily with.
drew from tho arbitration, which action
naturally dumped tho whole business.
The result was the road renewed its
peremptory demands for the reduction,
and finally a compromise on ~ conts
was effected, which price remained in
year. when Mr.. ktmball, Of the Norfolk
& Western, notified tho operators that
another cut had to be made March l.
In the meantime, the railroad went
into tho hands of a receiver and the
legislature had passed law forbidding
railroad com panies dealing in coal. OF
course, the Norfolk < Western won't out
and the operators employed the COM
pany's old sales agents, Ces,cn & Cur
ran. of Philadelphia, to carry on their
business.
THE SEQUEL
The question OF freight ratea- thcn
came into prominence, and their adjust
ment from the Flat Top regions to tide
water is tho present bone OF contention.
Tho receivers OF the railroad demanded
65 per cent OF tho selling price OF coal at
tide water, leaving tho operators SO per
cent, which would yield tho coal COM
panies about 63 ccnts per ton at the
mines. Tho mine owners claim they
cannot produce coal at this price and
that tho railroad companies or its 70.
ceiyers aro not justified in demanding
s. 25. having shipped thousands OF tons
at 90 cents, in some instances "a low rs
IS cents. They have accordingly been
compelled to close their mines, or 70.
duce wages greatly SO as to moet tho
price arbitrarily fixed by tho receivers
OF tho railroad. They understand that
their employees cannot afford to stand a
reduction, and have no quarrel with
them for striking, but are really in
sympathy with them, and are interested
in compelling tho railroad to carry tho
coal at such ratio rs will continue TO al
low them to pay tho old scale OF wages
and realize 723 cents on every ton.
Tho mncrs on New River arc getting
ST. cents for tho same coal. This ia a
very important strike and its outcome
will effect overy coal man in the state.
STRIKERS ESJoISED.
This afternoon upon application OF
the Norfolk & Western railroad,
through its attorney, United Statcs
Judge Jackson issued an injunction rc.
training the strikers along tho Norfolk
4 Western railroad from interfering
with tho United States mails on inter.
state traffic. Marshal Garden viii put
force OF deputies in that region at
once to enforce tho courts oador.
The latest information Ia that tho
railroad company Is greatly alarmed. as
numerous threats havo been mado and
tho tcmpor Of tho people Ia such that
they expect Interference with tho
movements OF their trains.