The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-07-13
SIGNS OF A COAL FAMINE
ONE OF THE EFFECTS OF THE GREAT
STRIKE OF THE MINERS.

Ranks of the Strikers-Only One Mine
Being Worked In the Pittsburg District
-Reports from Various Sections.
Pittsburg, July 12.-The miners strike
is causing the price of coal to steadily
advance, and to-day 1t was selling at
s1.S0 per ton, an Increase of $50 per
cent.
The strikers made further advances
to-day in getting out practically every
miner in the districts outside of Der
mitts, where the men still remain loyal
to their employees.
At mass meeting held at West New
ton to-day Vice President Mckay of
the Miners association said he believ-
ed the West Virginia mines would be
closed down within two weeks. If they
are not he said the railroad men would
be called on to bring work to a stand
still in that state.
The operators claim that the railroads
will supply cars sufficient to carry the
entire output of the West Virginia
fields.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 12.-Beyond the
Strengthening of the miners lines along
the river, 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 We're swept out Of existence to-day
and the strike was made general. The
Chamouki, the Jack Jones and LaFay-
cite mines which had been running with
light force are idle. The miners along
the river are rejoicing over this vic
tory The only mine reported in opera
ton In the region Is the Equitable at
Webster. 1t is a stock company, COM
prising about seventy-f1ve stockholders,
and they are mining their own coal.
The Blythe Coal company has offered
the 69 cent rate to their men, but the
otf1cials viii not allow them to go to
work at present. A mass meeting was
held In Fayette City to-day and plans
made to look after the strikers inter
ests. The men in the Washington Coal
company's mines also came out to-day,
making the suspension complete in this
district The hot heads are present and
they are getting In their work.
There will be a conference of all state
governors within the next few days
with view of settling the strike.
The M. A. Hanna mining interests are
represented by Cleveland operators,
who arrived here to-day. 1t Is expected
that a representative number of the
local operators will be gotten together
within the next twenty-four hours.
Those in touch with the situation say
that the attempt at concliation will
simply open the old discussion of Presi-
dent Dearmont's position. President
Dearmont will hardly be called upon to
abandon the position he has held for
years. To effect a settlement it will
be necessary for him to pay the same
that others are paying.
There is a strong indication of a coal
famine confronting the country within
the next ten days. With the scarcity
of coal already prevailing at the lake
ports 1t is claimed the supply will not
last over two weeks. In anticipation
of such a condition the coal operators
are not anxious to f1ll orders and are
holding out for an advance. The only
source of supply is from the river mines
ds the TdllTUduS are CODllSCd llIlS dll lNe
coal ready for shipment
This order was issued last week and
with the exception OF permitting the
railroad operators filing orders for
coaling vessels at the lake ports, no
coal is allowed to leave the district.
With the supply limited to the Monon-
gahela the prospects of famine is said
to be a certainty. The retail dealers
concede that a famine is imminent and
look for prices to advance beyond the
limit reached in the strike of 1894.
Knoxville, Tenn, July 12.-Authentic
information from the Jellico coal min
ing district where over 1000 miners are
out on strike Is to the effect that re-
ports as to destitution existing among
the people are totally without founda-
ton. The men have had no work since
May l, but have so far managed to sub
sist without aid from the outside. The
trouble in the Jellico district seems to
be mainly due to the desire of operators
to suspend during the summer on ac-
count of low prices of coal and high
freight rates. They have been indiffer-
ent whether or not an agreement was
reached as to wage scale. AS yet no
agreement has been reported.
Columbus, O., July 12.-Presldent
Ratchford of the Mineworkers returned
here to-day. He found messages from
Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, Eugene V. Debs, 7.
V. Powderly, the labor league of West
ern Pennsylvania, NJ. J. Garrick of the
Painters and Decorators union of Am
erica, L. S. Thomas of the American
Pattern Makers league. each rendering
men and money to go wherever Mr..
Ratchford directed.
Danyille, Ill, July 12.-At meeting
to-day 1,200 miners Of the Danville dis
trict a vote was taken 10 cease all work
in the Danville field.
Springfield, ILL.,, July 12.-Pursuant to
the decision of yesterdays mass meet
ing miners in the Springfield district
struck to-day, except the Clear Lake,
Co-operative and Spaulding shafts
Cleveland, o., July 12.-Colonel Ny
ron T. Herrick, receiver for the Wheel
ing and Lake Erie, was approached
upon the subject as to whether the
Ohio roads would refuse to haul West
Virginia coal