The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-05

The general committee selected by
the miners employed at the various
collieries operated by the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western company 20
formulate a petition on the powder
question, which will be presented to
Superintendent Loomis, met in knier-
um's hall, on North Main avenue, west
Scranton, last evening
Delegates representing twenty out of
twenty-six collieries were present. The
meeting was presided over by William
]. Morgan, and the question of pur-
chasing powder was fully discussed in
every particular. The representatives
were from the Storrs, Brisbin, Dia-
mond. Continental, Hyde Park, Pyne,
Taylor, Archibald, Bellevue, Dodge,
Kingston and Plymouth.
The published reports 10 the effect
that the miners contemplated striking
are wide of the mark, the men say.
The only matter under consideration
was the price paid by the miners for
powder per keg. For many years they
were compelled to pay So a keg, but in
1898 a reduction was made in the price
to $2.75. Since then the men have been
compelled to purchase their powder
from the company or quit work.
THE ORDINARY PRICE.
1t is quite generally known that pow
der can be purchased at $3.50 retail per
keg from any of the companies selling
it, and individual dealers have offered
to furnish the miners with powder at
81 and S1.25 per keg. 1t is also inti-
mated that the company buys the pow
der wholesale at SO cents and 90 cents
per keg.
When President Truesdale assumed
the management of the Lackawanna
system, the purchase of powder was
divided among several companies, and
1t was also intimated that the miners
would be benefited by the change.
Superintendent Loomis expressed the
opinion that the company was inclined
to be reasonable with it's employees, and
accordingly the miners held a mass
meeting in Flanagan's hall two weeks
ago, and appointed a committee to
| bring the matter before the men at the
| mines.
The result is evident in the selection
of the delegates who met last evening.
| The meeting was held behind closed
| the meeting was that a committee of
| three or five will be selected, the men,
bers of which thoroughly understand
| the question, who will draft a suitable
petition and present the miners griev-
| ance to superintendent Loomis.
AN ALTERNATIVE REQUEST.
1t is intended to ask for a reasonable
| N 40 m Of
| der per keg. and if the company re-
| fuses to grant the request, the miners
will ask the privilege of buying their
powder wherever they please. If this
| request is refused. it cannot be fore
| told at this writing what action will
be taken.
| Under the present conditions the sup
| ply of powder is kept at the mines
| and the miners are charged up with
the amount used during the month, but
| if they were permitted to buy from the
| companies themselves, they would nee,
essarily have to give a guarantee thai
they will purchase only from the con-
tractors who furnish the supply at the
| figures agreed upon.
The organization of the miners by
officers of the United Mine Workers o.
America has been going on in North
eastern Pennsylvania with remarkable
success for several months, and there
is scarcely a collery in this section
where the men are outside the fold;
of the local unions.
| Whether this will have any bearing
on the powder question will be known
when the company makes it's position
known on the subject.