The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-07-13
CRISIS IN COAL.
The Operators Seem to Be
Alarmed Over the Pros
pect of a Famine.
WEST VIRGINIA WILL BE OUT
Miners Only Need Urging Strong
Efforts to Effect a Set
tlement.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 10, 1884,
Within forty-eight hours developments of
very definite character are expected to
take place in the West Virginia coal
fields. A leading operator received a long
distance telephone message at ten o'clock
this morning stating that nine organiz-
ers had just left Pittsburg for the West
Virginia coal fields. A person who occu-
pies a high official position in the mine
workers union was at the PittsDurg end
Of the telephone.
You may look for something startling
in that direction with in the next forty
eight hours he said. Reliable adyices
which I have received this morning con-
vince me the West Virginia miners will
come out. All they wait for is a little
urging from the union am free to
confess ito You that while expected
many men would come out never hoped
for such a complete and Overwhelming
victory as this
The foregoing message was repeated to
a reporter who was standing at hand by
the operator who received IT. ~
When the point is reached that thetcoal
mine operators refuse to talk for publi-
cation the situation is grave indeed. The
ers that under no circumstances must
their name be used in connection with
the information they have supplied. A
leading operator made plain statement,
startling statement in fact. this morn
ing. but insisted his name must not be
used.
"Is there not some parts of your state
ment which / may accredit to you2"
asked the reporter. III
mo. You see if I talked for publication
I would have to say to you just the oppo-
site of what have said. You appreciate
that there are many reasons why would
not want my name to appear as admit
ting all these facts
Since Saturday the coal strike has as
sumed very grave aspect. but full
realization of the change did not reach
Cleveland operators and dealers until to-
day. Excepting a few operators. who
had some inside information they were
disposed to speak lightly of the matter,
and loudly declare that there was coal
on hand-more than enough to supply
the country regardless of the outcome of
the strike. Today all this seeming or
Several operators went to Pittsburg yes
terday to attend the voluntary confer
ence of the State Arbitrators. One of
those whose. knowledge of the premises is
+. i
The situation is very grave and an
tieinate some very startling developments
within the next forty-eight hours. be-
lieve the West Virginia miners will come
out and that will make the tie-up practi-
cally complete, for the strikers will then
concentrate all their. efforts on the De
Armitts men. A small amount of coal is
now coming from the mines along the
PENNSYLVANIA main line and from the
coke regions, but it is in compara-
lively. Insignificant quantities. think
it will be shut off entirely very soon.
From what 1 could learn yesterday
at Pittsburg. ] do not hesitate to say
that in my belief the railroads will hesi-
tate to haul West Virginia and De Ar
mitt's mines coal. The engineers and
trainmen are regarding the situation with
lowering brows. p. M. Arthur's state
ment to the, contrary notwithstanding.
The supply of coal on hand, is very
vance in prices shortly; Saturday. goal a
to sl5O t. o. b. is now held at a75. De-
liyered to Cleyeland the price is s2.65::
Chicago is buying freely and paying
high prices. do not think the supply
will hold out more than week longer