Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-07-09
PICKS LAID DOWN.
From 10000 to $4,000 Pittsburgh
I. Miners Obey Order to Strike.
SMOKY CITY THE PIVOTAL POINT.

Operators and Minors Both Confident
Of guccess-The West Virginia Col
\ Hers May Prove an Obstacle
to Strikers.
Pittsburgh, Pa, July THE strike
order of the national executive board of
the United Mine Workers of America
was obeyed by from 10000 to $4,000 of
the 1000 miners In the Pittsburgh dis.
trict Tuesday. The great struggle Is
now on In earnest and the develop
ments of the next few days will deter
mine the success or failure of the fight
for uniform mining rate, Pittsburgh
Is the pivotal point In the Ave states
engaged in the contest and the success
OF the local officials in their efforts to
secure general suspension In this dis
trict will have an important bearing on
che outcome Of the movement. While
1t is estimated that at least two-thirds
OF the miners have thrown down their
picks, enough men are still at WORK,
however, to seriously impair their
chances unless they can ultimately be
brought out. This, President Dolan
confidently claims, can be done. The
operators, on the other hand, are In
no wise disconnected and assert that
the strike cannot succeed. The first
break In the operators ranks was made
Tuesday afternoon by j. w. Steen, Of
the o. I. o. mines at Rossville. The
diRRers refused to work and the mine
was closed down, but q notice was
posted that after to-day the 90 cent rate
would be paid. It Is not likely that the
officials will allow. the men to work
until q majority Of operators have
agreed to the miners demands.
According to the estimates of the
miners officials &c railroad mines are
idle and rs are still IN operation. They
reported that In q number OF cases
they had heard no news from certain
mines, and take It for granted In many
cases that they are in operation.
Fear Trouble with Miners.
In West Virginia the miners have
been slow In responding to the strike
order. A dispatch says that general
strike III the state is not probable. The
men are not organized and they are In
clined to regard the strike elsewhere
as favorable to their chances for secur-
ing plenty Of work at good prices while
At is pending. Great pressure is being
brought to bear upon them by the
United Mine Workers officials to join
The strike, but so far without success
The impression among both operators
and miners in this state Is that West
Virginia will be able to supply the de-
mand for coal In the event of pro-
longed strike, and that the operators
will be justified to offer the miners Sn-
ducements to remain at work, as they
did In 1894.
Chief Nine Inspector Paul says h
does not look for much response TO the
order. He says: IF the West V4s;gihAa
miners remain at work during tie
strike In other states new markets will
fcnssp up for West Virginia coal, which
istrict ,M.rginia operators can hoA after
$ claimed, 'sation Of The strike. During
nd Ohio 81. a. 1894 the operators were
What the Ohio opery the demand for GOA
Q be they three hreas Pto give the miners
miners to q & us. pm at worh."
Wouiu leo' '3iners, and the United Nine
WIN Tue g officials may have great diff
robdh1fy in persuading them to john th'
strike. This applies especially 4
the Fairmont, Kanawha and New Rive
regions.
Bellaire, o., July IA large number
OF extra coal cars were sent to the Fair
mont (W. ya.) district by the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad company Tuesday
The operators of that field hove mott
fed the railway people that they COL
furnish 1000 car loads OF coal day
and shipments are expected 70 begil
soon. Most Of this coal will be sen
into Ohio to supply the trade IN thi
state. It is predicted that trouble will
result as soon as an attempt is mad
to move the coal across the river, tn
same as happened two or three year
ago during the miners e.
Efforts for Arbitration.
Indianapolis, Ind, July THE In
diana labor commission sent letters t
the labor commissions of Ohio, Penn
, sylvania and Illinois, inviting them t
meet with the Indiana commission Il
this city at as early day as possible t
consider the possibilities OF apbitratin
the coal miners strike. The Indian
commission hopes for favorable re
sponses to its invitation, and in cas-
the labor commissions of the fou
states meet the coal operators will b
asked to meet with them in an endeaxo
TO terminate the strike before 1t is ia
under way.
Big Supply Of Coal in Storage.
Columbus, O.. July IA. Brenhol
who manages the home Office for til
Central Hooking Coal company, say
there is at least 10000 tons Of coal
storage in the northwest. He est
mates that this will supply all demand
for at least four months, no matte
how general the miners strike b.
comes.
There is considerable coal on th
Ohio docks ready for shipment b
lake, but this coal will not be SCI
west. It will be held for the purpot
Of supplying transient trade.
With respect to supply for the raj
roads, 1t is estimated that the diRereI
companies have enough coal on hand |
last them about SIX weeks.
No Strike at Peoria.
Peoria, ILL.,, July There is no sig
Of strike among coal miners in tn
vicinity yet. So far as can be learne
all were working Tuesday. It is state
that they have been fooled two OF thre
times by the minersNin southern Ell
nois, and they are waiting to see VIII,
they will do.