The morning news., 1897-07-08
STRIKERS MAKE A GOOD START
FROM 10000 to $4,000 MEN OUT IN
THE PIITsBURG DISTRICT.

From 5000 to 5000 Men stiII Work.
ing>-UnIess They Can BE Induced
to Come Out the Strike Apt to
Prove n FaiIurc-The President OF
the DiEEers Confident He Can
Bring Them Out-The Mine own
ers just as Confident of Success ms
the Strikers.
Pittsburg. Pa, July T-Forty-eight
hours after the Inauguration of the great
coal miners strike comparison of state
ments from both sides engaged in the con-
test show favorable results for the dig
gers.
Dlscounting the miners official an
nouncements by the operators opinions,
there seems no question that the work.
men have scored a decided advantage In
this direction, and II is believed that as
the Pittsburg district goes, so goes the
country. Conservative estimates place the
number of miners now striking in this
district at from 5000 to 1900 men. an
increase of about 5000 over yesterdays 3
record. This leaves but from 5000 to 500
men still working.
The key to the entire situation from
present appearances lies In the success
or defeat of the strikers In securing tho
cooperation of the men now working for
the New York and Cleveland Coal Gas
Company. Without these men the strike
can hardly succeed, because they will be
able in measure to supply the demand
long enough to embarrass the men.
Patrick Dolan, president of the Pitts
burg district miners, is confident that be-
fore the present week closes, he will have
succeeded in getting ali these men to join
the strikers and when this is effected the
battle will be practically won.
The operators are just as confident Of
success as the miners are. They tonight
issued a statement claiming a large access
sion of men in different parts of the dis
trict, and a heavier shipping list than US
ual. One thing slightly in favor of the
operators is the freeing of navigation on
the Monongahela river. which went into
effect to-day. Ten million bushels of coal,
which have been stocked in the pools
above awaiting this event, will be brought
to this harbor at once and be available for
the present demand.
Notwithstanding the advantage claimed
for the operators the concensus of opinion
appears to be In favor of the miners, in
asmuch as the operators can only hope
for temporary relief with their present ia
cilities and the miners officials will be in
a fair way to effectually cripple these
constantly adding to their ranks those re-
naming at work.
Leading operators in the district admit
that the miners have succeeded in getting
more men to strike than they expected,
but say they are not worrying over the
outlook and that the strike will not last
a week. None of them are pressed for
coal, and have offers from presidents
whose miners have not Joined In the
movement to help them out.
Ex-senator Camden of West Virginia
has plenty of coal, and is now trying TO
lease cars to take 1t to the market.
Pittsburg operators whose mines are
idle have requests for their individual
cars. one operator sent 100 cars to West
Virginia yesterday. The strike has al
ready benefited the West Virginia oper-
ators, and If it continues for a few weeks
they win be enabled to dispose of a large
quantity Of coal at good prices.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com.
pany. acting under its legal right, to-day
conhscated number of cars of coal which
had been shipped by Henry Floerschelm
to the United States engineer for the
Davis Island and Herrs Island dams. This
coal is badly needed by the government
and also by the railroad. The United
States engineer offered to compromise
with the Baltimore and Ohio If It would
release half of the coal. II the offer is
not accepted the question will be sub
mitted to the United States court TO de-
termine how the point shall be settled.