Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-10

BAD FOR LAKE TRADE
Shippers Growing Uneasy Over the
Miners Strike Situation.
NO MOVE TOWARD SETTLEMENT
Strikers From Ohio March on the
Boggs Run Mine.
PREPARED TO STAY LONG
10 MOVE TOWARD SETTLEMENT
PREPAR TO STAY LONG

coal operators that the prolonging of the
strike for few more weeks will prove bad
fur the lake shippers. 1t is cited that when
the. miners will have returned to work
there will be such a demand for coal for
lake shipment that cars will not he obtain
able to rush it through for shipment before
lake insurance rates advance. which oc-
ours near the time for rough weather on
the lakes and greater risks of cargocs.
At present lake freight rates are low, and
vessels are moored at all the shipping
points waiting for cargoes up. When coal
again goes forward to the docks 1t is fear
ed the demand for vessels will be so great
that time will be lost in taking on cargoes,
because of the limitations at the docks to
moor vessels while loading, aad at the up
per ports while unloading.
Nothing Done to Settle Strike.
Nothing has been done by the local op-
orators looking to a settlement of the
strike. They explain this by saying the
miners demands are impossible of compli-
ance, and until they are modified there Is
no use of talking about settlement
Contracts are said to have been taken for
oil of this year at a low specific price
waiving the customary clauses which make
the price 50 much above the mining rate.
Most of the lake coal contracts are said
TO have been made without this clause this
year, and operators say that to lump the
cost OF mining to the point demanded by
the miners, or any near approach to it
would mean that the sheriff would become
an important person in their business
Ihey say they are doing nothing regarding
the settlement of the strike. but trying to
get the uniformity agreement into opera
ton.
Agreement the Only Hope.
They maintain that the adoption of this
agreement offers the only hope of improve
ment in the condition of the miners or an
enlargement Of their earnings next wear
ana Following years, and any rate above
impossible 'S"A ID
Inere are no new developments in the
coal operators arbitration movement. A
meeting of the committee was to have
peen neld last night, but so many of the
members are out Of town that it had to
De postponed. Gen. John Little saws he
hopes to get the committee together this
evening, but he was not certain if all
would be in town.
The object in holding the meeting is to
discuss plans for further steps in promo
tion of the cause. The committee will or
ganize and arrange to make a personal
canvass among the operators who have
signifed their unwillingness to sign the
uniformity agreement. They think that
most Of the opposition to the uniformity
results from misunderstanding of the
pIoNiSloIlS contained IN the contract an
insufficient knowledge of its import. BY
many operators, especially the river coal
Men, the scheme is not considered feasible
and they hesitate joining the movement
for that reason.
No Signed Contracts Received.
No signed contracts have yet been re-
ceived by the committee, but it is learned
that two or three have put their names
to the paper. D. B. Blackburn signed Sat
urday night, but still holds the contract
in his possession. The intention of the
committee is to secure the signatures of
the larger firms first, and after that 1t is
thought the smaller operators will fall into
line. The committee are not uneasy about
securing signatures, however. They have
several months to work up the matter, and
by January 1 they expect to have the re-
quired majority of all the operators in the
district.
Creek claim that a large desertion has
taken place from the De Armitt mines, and
the working force in the pit is too small
to dig coal enough to supply the water
The strikers have been praying that the
diggers would Join their ranks as soon as
they we're paid, and they are disappoint
ed because the men did not quit in body.
The officials of the New York and Cleve-
land Gas Coal Company claim that there
are 200 men in the mine or the same num-
Der that is usually there on the day fol-
lowing pay day. The output yesterday.
although there was what was claimed to
be full force in the mine, was only four
teen cars of lump and fifteen cars Of coal
that had fallen through 2 1-2-inch screen.
For the first time since the seige began
the company and the strikers agree as to
the output.
No Disorder ON Pay Day.
There was no disorder over the payment
of the men, although both the strikers and
deputies expected trouble. The amount paid
was over $1,000. The diggers received from
$25 to $46 each for two weeks pay. A
large number of the men when spoken to
said they had little difficulty in earning
$3.50 day. ard they do not see how the
strike can benefit them. The company dis
charged twenty-nine foreign workmen and
last night all of them took up quarters in
the strikers camp.
The striking miners are expected to reach
Irwin from Turtle Creek tomorrow morning,
and the operators are ready for them. At
Export the farmers have notified the West
moreland company that they will not allow
the strikers to come upon their lands, and
will treat them as trespassers. They also
stated that they will turn out and protect
the companys property, If necessary.
Mr.. Dolan's statement that the West
moreland Coal Company and the Penn Gas
Coal Company were selling coal to De Ar
mitt was investigated today: At the freight
depot 1t was learned that not a car load
of coal has gone to any firm west this sum-
mer.
The men seem still strong in their position
against striking
1t Is claimed q number of Westmoreland
Company miners have offered their serv-
ices to the company as deputies when the
strikers arrive.
Deputies at Turtle Creek.
Fifty deputy sheriffs were transferred
from Plum Creek to Turtle Creek this
morning to see that order Is preserved
while the diggers at the Oak Hill mine are
being paid.
All but a few of the Oak Hill miners
Joined the strike ten days ago, and Super
intendent De Armitt says they will not
be paid.
The output of the Sandy Creek mines
yesterday was two gondola cars of lump
coal and one car of nut slack. There are
supposed to be forty men working In the
mines.
At the Oak Hill mines. Master Mechanic
B. S. Tarr asserts that the force at work
In the pit Is 100 per cent greater than yes
terday. There are, according to the best
Information obtainable. twenty-five diggers
In the mines.
Hiring Negroes for the Mines.
The Labor Tribune has received . let