The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-16

IL ~ AIO1s
trate Dinrerences-A Coal FamireThreat-
ened
Pittsburg, July 12.-Beyond the
strengthening of the miners lines along
the rivers, there was little change in
the strike situation today. The iron
several mines in the Monongahela val
ley were swept out o. existence today
and the strike was made general in
the fourth pool.
The Blyth Coal Company has offered
the 50 cent rate to their men at the
Red Bird mine, but the officials will lot
allow them to go t. work at present.
The men in the Stickel Hollow mines
of the Washington Coal Company also
came out today, making the suspension
complete in this district except at the
mines of the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal Company, where about 1000
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 advising drastic
measures. They have been kept in
check so far, but there is no telling when
the fever will break out and concerted
moves on Sandy and Plum creek 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 modifying in this
city. The state of Ohio is the only n
which has a regularly appointed board
of arbitration. 1t exists for just such
emergencies as this and is naturally
eminently we'll prepared for the work.
Most of the others interested are labor
commissioners and industrial statisti-
clans who are also we'll able to act in
the capacity of arbitratOrs from the
nature of their work in keeping in
touch with the working classes gener-
ally. The Ohio board is composed OF
Selwyn N. Owen, chairman, of Column
bus, who was formerly chief justice of
the supreme court of Ohio; eX-AttOrney
General John Little, of Xenia, and To-
seph Bishop, of Columbus, formerly
president of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation. The Indiana labor commits
sioners here are L. P. Mccormack, ex-
president Of the typographical union,
and B. F. Schmid, Of Indianapolis.
James NJ. Clark, Industrial statistician
of Pennsylvania, arrived from Harris
burg this morning. Officials of West
Virginia, are expected here today. The
Illinois commissioners Of labor. ID.
Keefe, J. B. Gill and H. R. Golf, are
on their way to Pittsburg n will meet
the other commissioners in this city
on Wednesday. Thus all the states,
with the exception Of Kentucky and
Tennessee, where the strike is on Will
be represented in the conferences which
are to be held here during the next few
--- T~x-fo{io-r hoxyn haap C0nf To
the coal operators of the Pittsburg dis
trict to meet the arbitrators informal
ly n talk over the matter Of settling
the strike. 1t is expected by the ar
bitrators hat the representatives OF the
local operators will be gotten together
within the next twenty-four hours.
However, persons who are we'll &C
quained with the warning factions that
exist among the cOal operators here
say they will be hard to get together in
this move, although the extreme grav-
ity OF the outlook may AVE the desired
effect. Those in touch with the situa-
ton say that the attempt at concilia-
ion will simply reopen the old discus
sion of President De Armitt's position
on the necessity of a price differential
to compete with h company's stores.
Peace emissaries called at President
De Armitt's office today and it is said
IudI ne lOlu lllCII IL "Ou1o NC N0y VI
two before he could give them a def
mite answer as to the course of action
he proposed to follow. If the operators
can be brought into line on the con-
ference idea there will be no obstacles
imposed by miners. President Ratch-
ford notified the operators publicly a
few days ago that he was. ready for q
conference at any time. This afte'
noon he wired the arbitratOrs that the
..:,o~, QSa;o1- would noonf with fharn
tomorrow.
There is a strong indication of a
coal famine confronting the country
within the next ten days. 1t is claimed
by conservative CREATORS that the
marketable supply at present, which is
placed at 10, O0O, 900 bushels, would be
only able to meet the demands o. the
market for about a month under or
binary conditions. With the scarcity
of coal already prevailing at the lake
ports, it is claimed the supply will not
last over two weeks at the longest. In
anticipation of such a condition the
coal operators are not very anxious to
fill orders and are holding out for the
advance in price hat is expected to re-
suit. The only source of supply is from
the river mines, as the railroads are
confiscating for their w use all the
coal ready for shipment along their
lIlOS INO AoS Will "a
crease in the price Of coal within the
past few days and it is claimed that a
10 cent rate per bushel in boat load lots
will be reached within the present
week. The retail dealers as we'll as the
operators in general, concede that
famine is imminent and look for prices
to advance beyond the limit reached
during the previous general strike Of
the miners in 1894.
Wheeling, w. Va, July 12.-Devel-
opments across the river in the eastern
Ohio mining district were Gag to-
day. Interest has shifted from the
Dillonvale mines, on the Wheeling and
Lake Erie DAD up the river TO the re-
gion on the Baltimore and Ohio branch
Of the river from Bellaire. The men at
the Schick mines there, have been
working at 60 cents, a rate made by the
strikers, but the men in other mines
along the Baltimore n Ohio object to
the men working and are trying to