The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-14
OUTLOOK SEEMS DARK
For the Settlement Of the Great
Miners Strike.
OPERATORS WILL NOT ARBITRATE.

Ihan Ever to Close the Mines in West
Virginia and the Fuel Famine Is Spread
ing Day by Day-The Situation in uli-
nois-What President Ratchford Says of
the Strike.
Chicago, July H.-Each day accentu-
ates the prospect Of long and bitter
struggle between owners of and en-
ployes in the soft coal mines. Arbitra-
tion halts. Organization on both sides
continues. The number of miners at
work in each OF the states affected by
the strike Is steadily dwindling. The
pressure for fuel grows stronger, with
ascending prices.
An example of the activity of the rail-
roads in preparing for prolonged ces-
sation of mining is given in the follow
ing special dispatches:
Kankakee, Ils.-The Illinois Central
is now hauling long trains of empty
coal cars south and making every effort
| to get them loaded. Orders have been
issued to shop men to repair coal cars
| first, regardless of other exigencies. At
the Kankakee junction coal bins are
| full and coal is being unloaded on the
| ground The railroad intends to be pre-
pared in case a general strike results.
Godsend to the Railways.
Bloomington, Ills.-The determination
| of the miners in the local shaft not to
| Join in the general strike is a godsend
to the Chicago and Alton, Lake Erie
| and Western and Big Four railroads.
| The lines of the three roads pass the
local mine and they are taking every
| pound of coal obtainable from the COM
pany. The Lake Erie and Western has
| sent all the cars 1t can secure to this
city to be filled with coal and 1t is
likely that the entire western division
will have to be supplied from here. The
strike at Danville has compelled all en-
gines Of the Peoria and Eastern di-
| vision of the Big Four to stop here for
fuel and other divisions may call for
some of the local product. The Alton
Is taking all the coal it can get here and
is hauling many cars from the mines
in Missouri. The latter road is now
paying nearly 81 a ton more for coal
than it did month ago. and the strike
will cost the company an immense sum
The Lake Erie and Western has had
a contract with the local mine for years
and the price is unchanged. The Big
Four pays the same rate as the Chi
| CdSO anu AllOI.
Railroads Not Considered.
The miners here agreed to work or
providing the company would not sci
10 outside parties. Evidently the rail
roads are not considered In that con
nection, as there is no complaint by the
employees. Every man has been glVer
work that applied, and many or the
men are working overtime. AS the To-
\ I. Of hn faX
mines i'm the state working it is likely
that great pressure will be brought up
l on the miners here to go out. At pres
ent there is every likelihood that they
, will be deaf to all entreaties to join th'
! general strike.
Pittsburg sends word that "the New
York and Cleveland Gas Coal compan!
has refused to meet the arbitrators
and this practically kills the arbitration
plan." A Columbus correspondent
. quotes President Ratchford as saying
! 1.-THE suspension is more complete TO
day than at any time since the suspen
sion began. There is not a murmur
discomfort among the miners; ever!
change adds strength to our forces. IN
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois an
western Pennsylvania are completely
tied UP with but very few exceptions
One week from the present time VII
see the state OF West Virginia also tie
ND. as we'll as few scattered mines Il
other places"
Realizing a Good Profit.
Louisville. KY. coal dealers are nov
shipping steam and domestic coal I
| Chicago and other lake points and real
fzing a good profit on 1t. There are be
: tween 100000 and 100000 bushels Q
, Pittsburg river coal In the Louisviil
harbor, and 100000 bushels of Ken
tucky coal are in the city yards
wheeling, w. Va, reports that the 70,
600 miners In the state all are busil
at work. with the exception Of 700 o
900 men in the organized district in tn
I panhandle counties.
Governor Mount of Indiana says tina
his sympthy is all with the strikers
the present contest between the opera
tors and miners. He is investigator
his authority as chief executive to tax
q hand in the struggle, and II he see
. his way clear will appoint an invest
eating commission. The governors &C
tion in that event will depend upon tn
report of the commission from actuf
contact with the strikers.