The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-11

day Before the strike coal was quoted at
10 cents per ton This afternoon 1t was diff
neult to buy it at $3.50 ton. a few OF the
operators who were on the inside made con-
siderable money Some OF the operators
have gone into the brokerage business on
West Virginia coal. The Port Royal Com
pany bought 800 cars of West Virginia coal
and was selling ii from $l.10 to $l.50. This
afternoon representative of the Monon-
gaheia mine in West Virginia arrived in
the city to secure miners and new con-
tracts.
AS a last resort the railroad employees will
be brought into the fight if possible. The
heads OF various organizations have been
appealed to for assistance, II needed, and
II Is said they Will render all aid poSsi-
bic. 1t is reported that Mr.. Arthur, chief of
the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
had been asked 10 issue orders not to haul
coal until the miners differences are ad-
JuSted. This would effectually tie up all the
coal ready for shipment and what might be
loaded. in the event of failure to bring out
all OF the miners. When President Ratch-
ford was asked as to the truth of the re-
port he said
we have been keeping that feature from
the newspapers for several days. | will
say, however that we have communica ted
with the heads of ali the railway organiza-
uons in the country, and | believe we will
have their support in this struggle. As to
asking them to call on the railway en-
ployes to refuse to haul coal until this
trouble is settled, l will say that this viii
only be done after we have exhausted all
other means. 1t would hardly be fair to
ask this until we have used every effort
to close down every mine in the bituminous
coal fields. l do not care TO discuss this
subject any further. We are certain of
success, and the situation to-day is more
encouraging than at any time since the
strike was inaugurated. Organizers will be
sent into West Virginia. but how many will
go will not be known for a few days. The
national officers of the trades unions with
whom we met last night have agreed to
send organizers, but they Will have to con-
suit the executive boards in order TO de-
termine how many men each organization
can send into the field"
The district officers will make a deter
mined effort tomorrow to bring out the
New York and Cleveland gas-coal miners.
Arrangements have been made for a march
on the mines on Sunday. Secretary War
ner says four brass bands have been en-
gagged, and, with number of men, move
will be made on the mines on Turtle Plum
and Sandy creeks I'VE are not afraid of
the Injunction against us" said he, "as
we viii keep on the public highways, and
will have field on which to hold meet
ing"
The latest accession to the ranks of the
strikers was the miners employed at
Smocks mines, on the Redstone branch of
the Pennsylvania road. The coal from these
mines has been going to the Eastern mar
kets. Efforts will be made to bring out all
who are loading coal for the East.
Further accessions to the ranks of the
miners were made to-day At Allenport the
two hundred men in the VeSta mine met
last night and decided to strike for the dis
trict prices. To-day the pit is empty and
work has been suspended. The Panhandle
mine of Hanna & Co. is said to have been
shut down completely to-day by the order
of Manager Young. About seVenty-five men
were at work in this mine yesterday. Ac-
cording to the miners officials less than
five hundred outside of the 1900 employed
by Dearmit in the New York and Cleveland
Coal Company mines entered the pits in
this district to-day. District President Do
Ian, who is just back from two days
tramp through the field, said: There was
not a speck of coal mined to-day in the
valley from Whitsett to Pittsburg l have
been all over the territory, and 1 know
what l am talking about"