The record-union., 1897-07-13

TORS of the Several States At
feeted to Meet at Pittsburg to
Discuss the Subject.
PITTSBURG, July 12.-Beyond the
strengthening of the miners line along
the rivers, there was little change IN
the strike situation to-day. The iron
clad contracts, which were in force at
several mines in the Monongahela Val
ley were swept out of existence to-day
and the strike was made general in
the fourth pool The Chamouni, Appel
10. Jack Jones and O'Neirs Fayette City
mines, which had been running with a
light force of men under ironclads, are
idle. The men at the ChamOuni mine
We're the last to lay down their tools.
The miners along the river are reJoic-
ing over this victory.
The only mine reported in operation
in the region is the Equitable at Web
ster. 1t is a stock company, COM
prising about seventy-five stockholders,
and they are mining their own coal
The men in the Sickle Hollow mines
of the Washington Coal Company also
went out to-day, making the suspension
complete in this district except at the
mines of the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal Company, where about 1,2OO
men are working. No effort has yet
been made to get these diggers out, and
the miners at other pits who have laid
down their tools are grumbling at the
slOwness Of De Armitt's men in joining
the movement. The hot heads are ad-
vising drastic measures. They have
been kept in check so far, but there
is no telling when the fever will break
out, and a concerted move on Sandy
and Plum Greek be made.
The greatest interest is now mani
tested in the scheme to arbitrate the
strike question. Labor Commissioners
and official arbitrators of the several
States affected are gathering in this
city The State of Ohio is the only
one which has a regularly appointed
Board of Arbitration. 1t exists for
just such emergencies as this, and is
naturally eminently well prepared for
the work. Most of the others inter-
ested are Labor Commissioners and an
dustrial statisticians, who are also well
able TO act in the capacity of arbitra-
tors from the nature of their work of
keeping in touch with the working
classes generally. All the States, with
the exception of Kentucky and Tennes-
see. where the strike is on, viii be rep
resented in the conferences. which are
10 be held here during the next few
days
Invitations have been sent to the
coal operators of the Pittsburg district
TO meet the arbitrators informally and
talk over the matter of settling the
strike. James Young, representing the
NJ. A Hanna mining interests, came on
from Cleveland this morning, and was
in consultation with the peacemakers
at the Seventh Avenue Hotel. One or
two of the smaller operators dropped
in to look over the situation, but no
large conference has yet been held.
1t is said by the arbitratOrs that a
number Of the large operators viii be
gotten together Within the next twenty
four hours. Persons who are we'll ac-
quainted with the warning factions
that exist among the coal operators
here say they will be hard to get to-
Gether in this movement, although the
extreme gravity of the outlook may
have the desired effect. One of the
dissenters is ". P. De Armitt, Presi-
dent of the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal Company. He declares that
he has nothing to arbitrate, and says
the strike is the result of the machfn-
ations of politicians.
II the operators can be brought into
line on the conference idea, there will
be no obstacles interposed by the min
ers President Ratchford notified the
operators publicly a few days ago that
he was ready for conference at any
time This afternoon he wired the ar
bitrators that the miners of this dis
trict would meet with them tomorrow.
There is a strong indication of a coal
famine confronting the country within
the next ten days. 1t is claimed by
conservative operators that the mark
etable supply at present. which is
placed at 10000, 900 bushels. will be
only able TO meet the demands Of the
market for about a month under ordi-
nary conditions. With the scarcity OF
coal already prevailing at the Lake
ports it is claimed the supply win not
last over two weeks at the longest. II
anticipation of such a condition. the
ttdl Operators are uUI very ANXIOUS It
fill orders. and are holding out for the
advance in price that is expected to re-
suit The only source of supply is from
the river mines. as the railroads are
confiscating for their own use all the
coal ready for the shipment along theil
lines. This order was issued last week
and with the exception of permitting
the railroad operators filling orders fol
coaling vessels at the Lake ports, NJ
coal is allowed TO leave the district
With the supply limited to the Monon
gahela district, the prospect of {
famine is declared to be a certainty.
There has been a marked increase il
the price of coal within the past few
days, and it is claimed that a 10 cen
rate per bushel in boatload lots will be
reached within the present week Tht
retail dealers, as we'll as the operator:
in general, coneede that a famine is i'm
minent, and luook for prices to advance
beyond the limit reached during the
previous general strike of the miners il
1894
EFFORT TO SETTLE THE STRIKE
PITTSBURG, July 12-Strong effor
will be made this week to settle th'
miners strike by arbitration The sug
gestion that joint conference of tht