Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-14
A COAL FAMINE
Is Now Staring the Country
Boldly in the Face.
And Il Seems Like One ofthe Miners
Very Best Weapons.
miners Greatly Encouraged by Mondays Do.
. vsIopments Ia All Sections.

PittSburg, Pa, July IL. The miners
strike is causing the price OF coal t.
steadily advance and, Monday. 1t wa.
selling at $1.8e, an increase of $50 pei
cent. since the commencement of the
struggle.
The features In matters pertaining Il
| the strike was the presence In the city
OF the Joint arbitration board, who are
endeavoring by every means possible
| to bring to peaceable conclusion the
strife now in progress.
The strikers made further advances
in getting out practically every miner
in the districts outside of Dearmitt's
Imen who still remain loyal to their
employers.
At mass meeting held at West
Newton, Monday. Vice President Nc
Kay Of the Miners Association, said
ne believed the West Virginia mines
would be closed down within two
weeks.
The operators claim the railroads will
|.supply cars sufficient to carry the en-
tire output of the West Virginia fields
There is a strong Indication of local
famine confronting the country within
the next few days. 1t is claimed 10y
conservative operators that the mar
ketable supply at present which Is
placed at 100000 bushels would be
only able to meet the demands of the
market for about a month under or
.dinary conditions.
With the scarcity of coal already pre-
vailing at the Lake ports, 1t is claimed
the supply will not last over two weeks
a. the longest. The only source OF sup
ply is from the river mines. as the
railroads are confiscating for their own
use all the coal ready for shipment
along their lines. With the supply
limited 10 the Monongahela district, the
prospects of famine is declared to be a
certainty.
There has been a marked increase in
the price of coal within the past few
days. and il is claimed that a 10 cent
rate per bushel in boat load lots will be
reached within the present Week. The
retail dealers as well as the operators
in general concede that famine is
imminent, and look for prices to ad-
vance beyond the limit reached during
the previous general strike of the
miners in 1894.
Beyond the strengthening of the
miners lines along the river, there
was little change in the strike
situation. Monday. The ironclad
contracts which We're in force at sew
eral mines in the Monongahela river
were swept out of existence, and the
strike was made general in the fourth
pool. The men at the Chamouni mine
We're the last to lay down their tools
the miners along the river are rejoicing
over this victory.
a mass meeting was held at Fayette
city, in the afternoon. and plans made
"a look after the strikers in this sec
ton and see that no mines resume.
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, and a con-
certed move on Sandy and Plum Creek
made.
The greatest interest is now mani
Tested in the scheme to arbitrate the
strike question. Labor commissioners
ana official arbitrators of the several
states affected are now in this city.
The state of Ohio is the only one which
has regularly appointed board of ar
bitration. 1t exists for just such ener
gencies as this and is naturally emil
nently well prepared for the work.
Most OF the others interested are
labor commissioners and industrial
statistcians who are also well able to
act in the capacity of arbitrators from
the nature of their work in keeping in
touch with the working people, gener-
al