The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-03-08
MINES AND MINERS.
Pennsylvania Operators TO Fight the Bill Making
Them Responsible for the Careless
ness Of Their Employees.

Pennsylvania Operators TO Fight the Bill Maxim
Them Responsible Tor the Careless
ness OF Their Employees.
plttsburg manufacturers and coal
operators will send strong lobbying
committee TO Harrisburg To defeat the
bill, which has been presented to the
general assembly, to make mill and
shop foremen, mine bosses and fire.
men agents OF their employers the
latter being responsible and subject to
damages if II can be shown that N Is
through neglect of the foreman any
employees have been maimed and kill
ed. At present mine bosses and fore
men are licensed by the state. and the
r,erators are not responsible for their
es. The proposed bill has been in
dorsed by practically all the labor or
ganizatiOns OF the state and various
bodies OF more than local domain have
sent committees TO Harrisburg to
further its passage. Mil owners and
mine operators throughout the state
are arranging TO strenuously oppose
its passage.
A. ~. Fretts, of Westmoreland coun-
*, Pa, has for some time been leas-
ing lands I'm Back Creek Valley, and
In Third nm mountain. W. Va. He
has about $500 acres and will prospect
for coal ms the coal belt of the Third
liill mountain IL thought to extend
through these lands. The leases or OPP
tions which he IL taking is In the ma
ture of an agreement by which the
land owners agree to sell their land at
prices stipulated In the agreement, the
prices range from 81 to $50 per acre.
There IL abundant chances In these
lands for speculation, as the quality Of
coal that has been dug and tested
proves to be anthracite of an excel
lent quality. the only thing that seems
to be In the way Is to find whether II
Is In paying quantities. II this proves
to be the case. this Will be one OF the
finest coal fields In the state.
Another big deal In the iron and
mining trade Is about to he closed at
Cleveland. II is the sale of the Lake
superior Iron Company, which owns
considerable mining property In the
Lake Superior district and n fleet OF
vessels on the great lakes. II cannot
be learned who Is negotiating for the
property, but the general opinion is
that II Is either the Federal Steel
Company, tho American Steel and
Wire Company or the Carnegie Steel
the deal Is practically closed. and that
the matter will be settled in very
short time.
Masslllon, o., Miners union, has is
sued call for n convention on March
IL. He says that under no condition
VIII the miners OF the district accept
| cent less than the present price,
which was agreed upon for another
year by the Interstate convention, at
which the Hooking valley was not
represented. I'VE are prepared for a
long and bitter struggle" he said, "to
retain what we have gained"
The Florence, wis, mine and other
property of the Florence River Iron
Company, including over 1000 acres
of land in Forest county, Wis, has
been sold. Ernest Thalman. of New
York, was the purchaser, paying slGG.
300 Thnlman was Il heavy creditor.
The receiver Will probably be dis
charged on March IL and mining oper-
ations resumed. The mine produces
non -beasemer ore.
The Western Coal and Mining Com
pany of Little Rock Ark, posted an
ultimatum to their employees at all
their mines at Denning, Coal Hill and
Jenny Lind. stating that none OF their
demands will be granted. The miners
refuse to yield, and II Is now settled
that the four thousand men or more
will quit work. effectually closing
down the entire district.
Joseph ID. Fraser. superintendent of
the Nova Scotia Steel Company, Ltd
Is in Pittsburg to interest some OF the
big steel and iron manufacturers In a
rich ore mine. which, he says, is just
being opened up in Newfoundland
Mr.. Fraser says that the ore Is of very
superior quality, and that the ship
ping facilities are excellent.
The long looked-for advance In
wages of the coal miners of Birming-
nounced and went into effect last
week. The advance will be 2h cents
for every ton Of coal mined. and 1t IL
thought within the next month or two
II will be made effective for every coal
miner In the district.
The Hooking Valley Railway Com
pany has restored the cut OF 10 cents
per ton in coal rates made recently tC
meet the rates made by the Norfolk &
Western for West Virginia coal. Il is
said the restoration of the tariff rate
20 cents per ton. from the Hooking
coal fields to Columbus, Is also con-
templated. This would mean a furth.
er advance of 20 cents.
ii. Sellers. OF Pittsburg, Is said to be
at the head Of a syndicate of capital.
lists which proposes to develop recent
ly acquired copper ore mining proper
ties In North Carolina. W. Il. Phillips
an expert metallurgist, has been en-
gagged to pass upon the valne OF the
property. 1t lies near Granville, ". G.
Eastern capitals are negotiating for
the purchase Of large coal and timber
tract, in the south end of Jefferson
county, near Worthwhile, Pa. Arrange
ments are being completed for the
opening of the coal fields, and timber
contracts will be let this spring.
The Morris Coal Company OF
Youngstown, o.. has leased the En-
terprise coal mine of Grove City, Pa
idle for over two years and will al
once put 1t In operation with 100 men
Senator Lodges Engii5n.
a Washington correspondent writes
Senator Lodge, who for some reason
prides himself on the purity OF hi'
4 Ia cr