The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-09


PITTSBURGH, July SIT is safe to
say that the amount of coal dug on the
Wheeling division of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad would not fll one fiat car.
Such a complete shut down as exists in
this district SO soon after the inaugura-
tion OF the strike is admittedly sur
prise to the people living in that sec
tion. A number OF miners were at work
yesterday, the majority OF them In the
pits OF the Pittsburgh g. Chicago Gas
Coal Company at snowden and Gaston-
vile, but to-day It is doubtful II the
diggers at work along the whole line
would number 50. All OF these were at
the Gastonvllle pit Of the Pittsburgh q
Chicago company. A careful review or
the situation proves that the assertion
OF the miners officials that the Wheel
ing division is solldly advocating tho
strike. All the mines above Finleyville
Anderson, Germania, Hackett, Eclipse
and Nottingham-are completely tied
up. Five cars were loaded at the Ger
mania yesterday, but 1t was with coal
which had been lying on the dump since
work was suspended last Friday. The
Coal Bluff mine OF the j. G. Risher COM
pany, employing $50 men, was entirely
idle to-day. The big first pool mines
of the Robbins company were also coD
pletely closed. There was a doubt as
TO whether or not the Siavs would re-
turn to work after their holiday Tues
day, but this has been dlspelled and the
foreigners seem as enthusiastic as any
on the strike question.
Miners along the line have been anx-
lously watching the dIggers of the Pitts
burgh & Chicago company at Gaston-
vile and SnowdeR. Up until to-day II
was matter OF doubt whether or not
they would come out. Vague rumors
of the Finleyville dlggers threatening to
pull them ont were 1ontilg nround, but
were not believed to have much foundn-
tlon. The company though was pre-
pared for any move OF the kind which
| might be made. and notices were posted
up warning all not concerned with the
working Of the, mines to keep on the
property, II is also said they-Sad n
number OF special guards on hand to
watch the movements OF the men. These
men have all been working under tho
| uETttliltHkt AAllh hN AhEehllA
| a forfeiture OF 10 per cent OF their wages
held back since the first OF the year by
the firm II they voluntarily quilt work,
the strikers were in doubt as to whether
the could be induced to Join the move-
ment At meeting held ! st night,
however, 1t was decided to come out for
the district rate, and to-day the mines
were practically idle. BY their action
10 ts soGd tha man xptit insa nearly ~ O1O
in percentages.
MINERS OFFICIALS ELATED-
! The miners officials were elnted over
| their success on the Wheeling division.
The mines in that section have without
doubt caused the officials not q little
worry for much coal for the Ohio
Pennsylvania trade could have been
shipped out OF there had the miners re-
malned at work. and It would have very
seriously interfered with tho general
suspension.
It is reported that the operators on
this division have advertised for men TO
| flli the places OF the strikers. II this
| Is true and an attempt is made to re-
sumo with non-unlon men, II is feared
there will be serious trouble. It is not
likely. however, that n sufficient NUM-
Der Of men can be gotten together to
start the mines.
The miners on the Wheeling division
apparently have no fears In regard to
the length OF the strike. A large num-
Der of them were asked how long the
strikers could stand II without suffering
| from want. One and all were firm In
| the belief that hll could Scratch along"
for several weeks all right. "well,'' re-
piled digger TO the question, "the man
who owns the pit work in said once
when we had some trouble with him
and won out that the miners could live
on weeds in the summer, and l guess
we can. Anyway VIC are willing to try
II for n right smart spell"
About one-third OF the full quota OF
dlggcrs were at work at the Pan Handle
mines OF VI. A. Hanna & Co. This Is an
| Increase over yesterday, and Is due to
| tho fact that the firm posted notice TO
the effect that II the men did not re-
turn to work to-day, the money due
them on their lronclad agreement would
| be retained. The amount u Is said aR-
gregates $1,000. In the first pool the
men who were under contract also came
out.
There IL no basis 10 estimate tho
amount sacrificed by the first pool min
ers, az the firms agreed TO pay per
cent interest on the money held back.
FLUSHED WITH vfcToRY-Tho
local mining officials, flushed with VIC
tory. nro now preparing to make move
against the mines Of the New York 4
Cleveland Gnp Coal Company. They
cXpreRs confidence In their ability 20
brlng these men out before the end NJ
the week, ara then the suspension IN
| this district WIN be complete,
Then the strike extension work viii
proceed eastward. The mines shlpHag
to the HeAbcnrd viii be attacked, First
WIN come movement nRhinHt thu
mines Of the WeslmOrclnnd Gas Coal
Company, and the Penn Gns Coal Com
parry. aud thence the officials VIII direct
| their stteHtlaR 10 the central pepHgyl-
vanln fields. l1mlnsnrles of the United
| Mine Workers Of America have been
In tho latter fields for the past week.
! rhpy report pfDgipaB From hints drop
bed by the miners officials II IN not Inn
probable that successful elimination ot
the strike agitation In the soft coal fields
viii result IN the assignment OF strike
oinlsHntloH To the anthracite region. The
output In that district II realrlotod 10 a
stated amount by agreement UntcrCJ
Into between members NJ the operators
| organization The miner oillolnlH think
this agreement VIII be- broken nnd that
nm effort viii he made among the un'
| thrnuliO producers ~ supply, In part
the need NJ coat among the bitumtnoun
consumers, They aTo watching this