The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-09
COAL MINERS
GREAT STRIKE
Shut Up Tight on the Wheeling Di-
vision Of the B. &. O.
NOT A CAR OF COAL TODAY
4 Fek Nen at Work 10 ". A. Haana's Wine
Strike Spreading to asterEn
Pennsylvania

Plttsburg. July sit Is safe to say
that the amount of coal dug today in
Wheeling division Of the Baltimore 4
Ohio railroad world not MI one aatcar,
Such complete shutdown as exists in
this district, so soon after the inau-
guratlon OF the srike. is admittedly a
surprise to people living in that section.
A number Of miners were at work yes
/ terday. majority Of them In the pits
Of the Pittsburs and Chicago Gas Coal
Co. at Snowden and Gastonviile bur it
Is doubtful II the diggers at work along
the whole line would number ffty, all
OF these at Gastonvilie pit Of the Pitts
burg and Chicago Company. A careful
Seyiew Of the situation proves the asser-
tion OF mine officials that the Wheeling
division Is solidly advocating the strike
Five cars were loaded at the Germai1a
mine yesterday. but it was with coal
which had been lying on the dump since
work was suspended last Friday. There
was doubt as to whether or not the slavs
would return to work after their holi-
day Tuesday, but this has been dlspelIed
and the foreigners seem as enthusiastic
as any on the strike question. Miners
along the line have been anxiousiy
watching the dIggers Of the Pittsburg
and Chicago Company at Gastonville and
Snowden.
Until today it was a matter Of doubt
whether they would come out or not.
Vague rumors Of the Finleyville diggers
threatening to pull them ont were flow-
ing around. but were not believed 10
have much foundation The company,
though. was prepared for any move OF
the kind which might be made. and no
tices were posted warning all not con-
cerned with the working Of the mines
TO keep of the property
These men have all been working under
the iron-clad agreement. and this meant
forfeiture OF 10 per cent Of their wages
held back since the first OF the year
by the firm. II they quit work, strikers
are in doubt whether they could be in
duced to join the movement. AT meet
ing held last night 1t was decided TO
come out. The men will lose nearly
SS.000 in percentages.
About one-third Of the full quota Of
diggers were at work at the Panhandle
mines Of NJ. A. Hanna & Co. today.
Local mining officials, flushed with vic
tory. are now preparing to make a move
against the mines of the New York &
Cleveland Gas Coal Co. They express
confidence in their ability to bring these
men out before the end of the week. and
then suspension in this district will be
complete Then the strike extension
work will proceed eastward. The mines
shipping to seaboard will be attacked.
First will come a movement against the
mines Of the westmoreland Gas Coal
Co. and then the officials will direct
their attention to the central Pennsyl-
vania fields.
The miners think the effort will be
made among the anthracite producers TO
supply in part the needed coal among
the bituminous consumers. They are
watching this phase of the struggle with
great care. Any intimation Of an in
creased output among the anthracite
mines will result in an immediate strike
agitation in these fields.
Coal operators dispute the claims Of
the miners officials as to the situation
on the Monongahela division.
There are probably six or seven thou
sand idle river miners" one said but
they cannot be called strikers, as ma
jorlty of them have had no work for
several weeks There are now at least
Is, 5,OOO,O0O bushels of coal loaded in the
harbor. There can be no coal famine
in home markets with this large supply
on hand Most of this coal can be loaded
in cars If the strike is prolonged and
used for the lake trade