The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-15
BIG STRIKE IN COLORADO.
sMEL TIERS SHUT DOWN AND $4,000
MINERS WILL BE OUT OF WORK.

wage scnle Under the New EiEht-Hour-
Day Law In Dispute-Men Hope to win
Through Arbitration-Force at various
Mines Already Cut Down Railroad Losses
COLORADO SPRINGS. Col. June 14.-Colora-
dos great smelter strike. caused by the new
eight hour day law. is fully on. The work
OF blowing out of furnaces is about
complete. Ex-senator Hill OF the Boston
and Colorado says his plant will close
indefinitely At the Philadelphia smelter
at Pueblo Mr.. Guggenheim's offer Of
an advance is met by demand for 10 cents
additional per hour This has been declined.
The Philadelphia may be kept running by the
strikers for advantages given them over other
smelters. Tho Colorado and the Pueblo. en-
ploying 1000 men. are closed at IeadVille.
Not man is working at either the Arkansas
Valley or the Bimctallc smeter
The mines are panicky. Men at Leadville
are being paid up at the close OF every ship
mont. Barely enough force Is being retained
to keep the water out OF the mines. About one
third the regular force will be retained. No
ore will be broken while the smelters are idle
The situation is about the same at Cripple
Creek. Ore will not be mined while there is no
prospect Of being able to crush 1t.
At midnight tonight the Eight-hour law
goes into effect. From that hour 5000 smelter
men en- poyed throughout Colorado will prac-
tcally be idle. 1t is only question Of a brief
time until 10000 miners will also be idle.
DENVER. Col. June l4.-Several smelters in
the state have closed and orders have been is
sued to shut down the Argo plant. On the
other hand. the Colonization and Cyanide
plants at Florence and Cripple Creek will con-
tinue to operate.
What effect the strike will have on the mate
rial prosperity OF Colorado is bee oming ap-
parent. On the call at the Denver Stock FIX
change this morning only two sales were
made. a total OF 1000 shares. Men who
own railroad stocks and smelter shares
feel that the next few days will see the
prices go tumbling down. Railroad men admit
that the present situation amounts to q loss Of
over quarter of million dollars weekly to
the three roads most nearly concerned in the
lining and smelling industries OF the State.
Several thousand men are now Idle and other
thousands may he added to their ranks at any
time.
Gov; Thomas hopes the matter may soon he
S he b s%r 81 III. Ss:s smell.
away from a private ava enee thjs morning and
long siege Tits news was lar from en-
coursajnE to the railroad men who are view
Grande. Colorado Midland and Colorado and
Southern will suffer each week, i tho strike
oontinunsYs t2defnitely. is over $25OOo0, prob
The striking men were non committal. as
usual. No meeting has been held by the men
sent to the management OF the smeters and
the strike inauuGurayed The men intend stay
coded. They apprehend that the smelters
win make, an attempt to start again with
outside help within two weeks In case the
attempt 10 made they refuse to say what will
be their action. The men are pInning their
faith to arbitration. The strike affects lot the
the coal mines. the teamsters. and In more or
less direct manner every branch Of business In
the State. The mon depend on those facts to
induce interference on every hand and o uni
versal request for arbitration.