The record-union., 1897-07-17

51OW TOSftSS Lh6
Trouble.
PITTSBURG, July 16.-Dullness at
the miners headquarters and among
the miners in the Pittsburg District,
and unusal activity in the coal mar
ket, characterized the features of the
strike to-day. Coal took a tumble in
price to-day. 1t sold for 81 % at the
mine, a drop of % cents from the day
previous. A tour among the operators
demonstrated that there was plenty o.
coal On hand.
WORK OF ARBITRATORS.
PITTSBURG Pa), July 16.--Tru4
uniformity may eventually win in the
Pittsburg mining district through the
efforts of the Peace Commissioners, but
it is said that it will require several
weeks, perhaps months, to secure the
signatures of the operators. General
Little has advised that no time limit be
put on the movement as in the former
attempt.
The lines along which the arbitratorS
expect to work is to get lake shippers
interested first. These will be banded
together to force the smaller oprators
into line by well-known business meth
DDS. Every wire will be pulled to bring
firms and men into line.
The position of the miners officials in
this new phase of the strike movement
is queer. M. d. Ratchford the Ma
i tiona President, has persistently re-
fused to come to Pittsburg for con-
ference. In his communications to the
district officials he has said that he
did not believe the agreement could be
brought about, and he has otherwise
thrown cold water on the scheme.
President Dolan and Secretary War
ner have cut loose from their national
executive in the movement, and pro-
pose to give it their hearty support.
Cameron Miller, an eX-official and one
of the officers taking an active part in
the movement of the kind, will also give
the plan some attention.
Mr. De Armitt, in naming the opera
tors in the Pfttsburg district, has in
cluded those with mines on the Penn
sylvania road in the f1fty-mile limit. He
will undertake to secure their sigma
lures to the document, and with those
whom he cannot get to sign he believes
some agreement can be reached where
by they will not compete for the West
ern trade.
weighing bill introduced by the repre-
sentative of Homestead, compelling
operators to pay for coal mined before
screened, which is known as 'run-of-
mine coal" This removes one clause
from the uniformity agreement, as uni
form screens was one of the leading
features. The operators will have their
attorneys review the law to ascertain
| If it is constitutional and it will play
an important part in the agreement
The operators, almost to a man, are op-
posed to it.
FAVORABLE TO STRIKERS.
WHEELING CIV. Va.), July 16.-The
advantages this morning are all on the
strikers side. None of the miners have
returned to work. The idle miners are
comparatively small, aggregating 400
men. While strikes are more on account
of local disaffection than sympathy for
the movement, the strikers are aiding
the agitators greatly. Fairmount is
problematical. Kanawaha leans toward
the strike and Norfolk Western is SYM
pathetic. The operators will endeavor
to keep all hands working Saturday and
Sunday and out of reach of the organ
izers. Eastern Ohio is quiet.
DECLINED TO WORK.
SPRINGFIELD Qll), July 16.-The
miners wages in the Pana district have
been increased by the operators but
they are declined, and the men will not
return to work. The families of many
of the miners are destitute and the
strikers have organized a commissary
and are soliciting provisions of busi-
ness men and farmers. Over 100 fam
lies are being given rations daily.
There are $500 miners idle in the Pana
district.
WILL JOIN THE STRIKE.
PEORIA Ql.), July 16.-The miners of
Peoria district have voted unanimously
to join the strike. President
Hunter of the United Mine Workers
addressed a mass meeting held at Bar
tonville, and after reports from the va
rious mines had been heard a general
suspension was ordered. The men re-
fused to strike the last week, on the
ground that the Southern Illinois mines
We're still running, and their suspension
has much to do with the decision. In
| consequence several of the factories
will be forced to shut down Saturday,
throwing out of employment a thou
sand men.
ADVANCE IN PRICE OF COAL.
CLEVELAND (O), July 16.-An ad-
vance of 45 cents on all coal from the
West Virginia fields coming into Cleve-
land was made this morning. The in
crease was forced by the Baltimore and
Ohio, which raised its rates on West
Virginia coal 10 cents, making the rate
to Cleveland 81 so instead of 81 05. 1t
was reported yesterday that such an
advance had been made, but the valley
people, otherwise the Baltimore and
Ohio denied it at the time. 1t affects all
reads to which the Baltimore and Ohio
transfers West Virginia coal.
The effect of the increaserd tariff of
45 cents on West Virginia coal by the
baltimore and Ohio road will be the ex-
Guiding of West Virginia coal from
competition, and it is openly admitted
that such was the purpose of the ad-
vance.
The operators were claiming that
owing to the existence of contracts at
fixed figures they could not advance the