Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-13
STRIKE IN TENNESSEE
About 5000 Miners Out and Coal Fam
inc Expected.
Trouble Arose Over a Ffve-Cent Re.
duction to Meet the Rates
Paid fn Ohio.
Special Dispatch to TIE Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to TIE Evening Star.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, July 13.-The
coal miners in the Jellico. Tenn. coal mine
district 5000 in all. are on strike, and
the prospects are that the men will remain
out for some time. no attempt at settle
ment of differences having been made.
There are also 1000 or 900 men out on the
Cincinnati Southern railway. This causes
serious state of affairs in the southern
mining districts. and especially in Tennes-
see.
In explaining the situation, James W.
Wilson, an operator from Jellico. said to-
cay: In 1894 the miners and operators of
the Jollico districts decided upon a rae
for the year lS34-'95. Upon the recommen-
dation and request of the miners, the OPP
orators fixed the sc ale the same as that
which was then existing In tine Jackson
county mines in Ohio The miners held
that these Ohio mines were much like
the Jellico mines. in that the conditions
were the same. that the same scale should
exist in both. The scale was put in effect.
ard because of 1t the men received 90 cents
per ton for coal mined from a seam three
and one-half feet in thickness or over. and
10 cents for coal mined from a seam less
than three and one-half feet thick.
Scale Was Satisfactory.
This scale was satisfactory to everybody.
and in 1895 We continued the scale. except
that we divided it into five grades instead
of two. This likewise proved satisfactory.
and ii was made for the purpose of giving
the miners more money for mining coal in
narrow seams.
The scale upon which the Ohio miners,
above referred to. were operating under
previous to the present general strike, was
81 cents for coal from a seam over three
and one half feet, and SO cents for coal
from smaller seams. This was a reduction
CT y cents per ton from the scale which
was in existence at that time in the Jellico
district. The Jellico operators then pro-
posed a scale which, though a reduction of
cents per ton on last years scale, was
cents higher than what was paid in Jack
son district. This difference of cents the
Jeiiico operators figured sufficient TO
compensate the miner for handling cars
and laying tracks, all Of which is done by
the company in the Ohio mines
The companies have no coal on hand
and are doing no business. They said hey
can better afford TO allow their properties
to lie idle than pay greater price for the
mining of the coal than is worth to them.
Lockout is Indefinite.
The extent of the lockout is now con-
sidered indefinite, and the situation is
more serious at present than at any time
since it took place.
Another report from the mining district
says that the coal operators last winter
formed combine, which accounts for the
large supply of coal which is on hand.
Thirteen of the leading operators Joined
in the combine, their plan was to mine all
of the coal possible up to May and then
duce wages. The coal was loaded in cars
Of the Southern railway and Sidetra cked
TO await results. This supply of coal is
now almost exhausted, and the state is
threatened with coal famine. For the
past two days several Cincinnati firms
have tried this, and the Jellico district for
COAL but according to the stipulations of
The combine, the members cannot sell to
the Cincinnati people until the combine
says SO. A special from Knoxville says
that this combine is broken by the filling
of the orders by indirection. Operators
say that a coal famine throughout the
south will result, and that all of the men
at the large mines will strike.