The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-12

Pittsburg. Pa, July 11.-Today marks
the beginning of the second week OF
the coal miners strike. and already il
gives promise of being one of the great
est wage struggles in the history of
this country Eight days ago the coal
operators in this district and the min
ers themselves little dreamed that
within one short week such an era OF
general suspension could be wrought
as now exists in the bituminous min
ing industry.
Then the mouths of the many coal
tipples that do the Monongahela.
Youghieghen, Allegheny and Peters
Greek valleys and the valleys Of Toms
and Miller's run We're open and turn
ing out thousands on thousands Of
tons of the best coal that enters into
the competitive markets of the world.
NOW ALL IS CHANGED.
The vast caverns are like so many
graveyards- On nearly every railroad
track leading a the mines there stand
empty cars. apparently anxious to be
loaded. that their burdens may be car
ried TO the ports along the lakes.
The success that has attended the
movement has greatly elated the min
ers. and during the next few days ev-
cry effort will be made 10 bring out the
men in the few mines that are still
working. This will be a difficult task.
but they express confidence in their
ability to make the suspension COM
plete before the week is IS hours old
From the best information obtain
able. the PittSburg operators are in no
hurry TO have the difficulty adjusted
Many of them had stocks on railroad
sidings which they held for an advance.
Much of this was disposed of Satur-
day at a good profit. \ prominent OPP
orator said today that It would take
another week TO determine the exact
state OF the market. and by that time
a general cleaning I'D viii have taken
place. All interested viii be ready to
begin business on a new basis and
probably a much higher price
This whole thing will result in a
compromise" said another operator.
These operators are in a position TO
stand it for some time, and / believe
the miners are in about the same con-
dition. 1t looks as if business would
brighten up, and in that event the OPP
orators will be able TO get prices and
the condition of business and the con-
ously improved"
ONt4 BIZ O8S1AOlLE4-
Just now the greatest obstacle IN the
way of success of the miner is the ac-
tivity of the diggers in the West Vir-
ginia fields. They are working night
and day and are getting ready to sup
ply all the coal that is needed They
are repeating what they did three years
ago when a general suspension was de-
clarec.
At that time there was number Of
operators in the mountain states that
were on the verge of bankruptcy The
general suspension was declared, and
there came a great demand for coal ar
prices that insured a big profit The
operators rallied around them a large
number of men. whose friendship and
support they have encouraged ever
since.
The operators prOfited by thousands
and thousands of dollars. When the
season had finished and the strike was
declared a failure they balanced their
books and found things on the proper
side Of their ledgers-
They realized that they owed much
of their profit to their miners. and re-
varded them for it. On each succeed
ing payday the faithful miners were
paid bonuses in the shape of gold
pieces. and naturally the best OF feel
ing prevails between the employers and
This IS the condition of affairs which
the organizers who viii go into the West
Virginia district this week VIII have 10
encounter. II IS argued BY the miners
that there are more men out in that Sec
tio0 than there were three years ago.
and they express the greatest confidence
in bringing them out II they can get their
ears This failing. the railroad organiza-
tons will be appealed to- This plan or
campaign has been outlined by the ma
tionaI officers and the Developments OF
the week win be watched with interest
MINERS HAVE SAID NAY.
There are a number of operators in the
Pittsburg district who have expressed q
TO pay the price demanded.
But the miners have said nay They will
insist that a majority of the operators II.
the district pay the 50 cent rate or none-
This is the ultimatum OF the national
officers.
The new features in the situation today
we're the arrival of the Ohio and Indiana
state board of arbitration, the meeting
tonight of the United Labor League OF
Western Pennsylvania and the report
that a movement was on foot to import
new men to take the places of the strik-
ars at the Pittsburg and Chicago COM
panys mines
we're greatly excited today over a report
that Owen Grouse was in that region. and
hat an attempt would be made TO resume
work with imported men, Secretary War =.
hat II this was done there would likely
be trouble and he feared there would be
I lynching.
The only news from the West Virginia
ield received here was that the Beech
wood mines. twelve miles south of Nor
santown. had started NJ full and were
advertising for 100 more men,
"