The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-31
TO START The MINES.
A COMBINE BETWEEN OPERA.
TORS AND RAILROADS.

A So eret Move on the Part of the Pittsburg
District Opcrators-In Touch With the
Railroads. Outside Labor to DO Hired
President Dolan Does not Think the Op
orators Will Attempt to Start the Mines
Employing Detectives
Pittsburg, August N.-Coal operators OF
the Pittsburg district have not been
asleep during the past few days. The i'm
preston in certain circles that there
would be no attempt to start the mines
seems to have been established for a pur-
pose, and that purpose was to divert the
attention of the miners officials. 1t has
been definitely decided to start several
mines along the Wheeling division Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The pre-
liminaries were all completed tonight and
a decisive move can be expected almost
any time. 1t was given out hat the
Cleveland operators had gone to their
homes for the ostensible purpose of await
ing the result of the st. Louis convention.
Some Of them went. but others did not.
Those remaining behind were members of
the newly appointed committee, whose
duty it is to perfect the arrangements
for starting some of the mines and in the
end, break the strike.
One of. the first moves was to get in
touch with the railroad companies. The
officials Of the railroads at once agreed
to cooperate with the operators III
bringing about, if possible, an era Of ac-
tfvity in the coal producing industry of
the Pittsburg district. It was made very
apparent that the railroads were losing
a large amount of business, and that they
were fellow sufferers with the coal opera
tors. The cooperation of the expense OF
getting imported labor into the district
was discussed and the railroad companies
agreed to share their portion of the out
lay.
After this agreement was made. the
work of hiring imported labor was taken
charge of by a special subcommittee.
Just when they will be brought into the
district could not be learned. One of the
principal reasons for selecting the Wheel
ing division of the Baltimore and Ohio is
the fact that men can be brought in and
unIoaded in close proximity to the pit
mouths. They can also be brought into
the district from the south, by way of
Wheeling and would not have to be trans
ported through very much Of the Pitts
burg district. Another reason advanced
is the fact that the mines along this road
have been supplying coal for the locomo-
tives Of the railroad and If not furnished,
United States mail trains could not be
run and the wheels of the national gov
eminent would be interfered with. Pro-
lection would be forthcoming with no
cost imposed on the operators, as the
government would be bound to protect
and maintain it's property at it's own ex-
pense. These plans have all been COM
pleted and the work is we'll under way.
President Patrick Dolan shook his head
when the question of starting the mines
by the operators was preached yesterday.
II don't believe they will make such All
attempt he said, II am Of the opinion
that they will wait until after the con-
vention at st. Louis. Just now it would
be a big undertaking to start mines in
this district with imported men. Yet they
may be sincere in their intentions"
District Secretary Warner does not an
ticipate that q general strike will be de-
clared at St. Louis. He says it is not
needed, as the miners officials are salts
fed with the progress which the strike Is
making.
Henry Floorish is trying to get his
miners to agree to go to work at the s.
cent rate and say they would do SO,
but that they fear personal violence. To
these he has made the proposition that
he will care for their families in case they
are killed.
Barring & McSweeney's detective
agency on Fourth avenue, has been hiring
men for the last day or two to so and
guard mines, and is said to have secured
over 100.
James Jones & Sons posted notices at
their CaskSburg and Ivil mines this morn
ing to the effect that the mines would be
started up at the SO cents rate whenever
the men are willing to go to work. About
500 miners are affected and a meeting will
likely be held to- consider the proposition.
Columbus, Ohio, August 27.-President
Ratchford, of the United Mine Workers
today issued q statement replying to the
operators of the Pittsburg district. He
denies that the miners are opposed to
arbitration. He says they favor it, but
not on the basis proposed by the opera
tors. The operators threats about get
ting Calling guns and Pinkerton detec-
tiveS, he declares, will have no weight
with the strikers. He declares that if the
operators will meet them on fair terms
there can be no trouble in reaching. a
settlement.