The bee., 1899-10-12
DOWN IN The MINES.


Secretary Atkinson has on his or
der book, orders for two hundred
and fifty cars coal.
Weigher John Hogan at the Hecla
mine, has for the last two weeks
been a sufferer from bronchial trou-
BILE, but is still able To work.
Foreman Summers, of the coke
works, says the demand for coke
now exceeds the supply and that the
production Of many additional coke
ovens could easily be disposed of,
during the the present prosperous
times.
Foreman Day, of the Hecla mines,
says much work and mony will be
required toput the mine and machin-
cry i'm good shape and under his SUI
pervision the work of improving Is
progressing rapidly.
For the first time In quite while,
the Empire miners took few days
rest last Saturday, and almost I'm a
body attended the street fair at
Hopkinsville. So hard have they
worked for the last year or two, that
that day off was highly appre-
clateu Dy lnen.
A large number of miners from
Mortons and Barnsley attended the
Republican speaking here on the
night of the 4th, and went away
highly pleased with the way Judge
Holt pounded Goebel and the Goebel
Election Law. Miners as general
thing, are in favor of justice In all
matters.
A vote for Goebel means a vote
against the fast increasing industries
of our state, and is an invitation to
capitalists to remain away from the
state. Miners, like all other labor
ers are equally interested in the up
building Of our labor producers and
should vote against the man who at
tempts to, or favors an attack ON
same.
If the editors OF the U. NJ. w.
Journal knew the past record Of the
man, who last week, signed "Smith, -
they would hardly give space to his
letter. AS many of our readers well
know, Smith for several years lived
here and at Hecla, and If he ever dis
played any ambition to make an
honest and independent living, such
was not the case here. One who
knows, says that-for about two
years he lived in one of the st. Ber-
nard houses, without paying cent
of rent, and also through his own in
dolent habits, became a subject of
charity. Mr.. j. b. Atkinson whom
Smith tried to malign In the article
die wrote, donated sum OF money
to him and in other ways befriended
Smith, yet the migrate he is, now
tries by falsehoods and other ways
TO damage, ifp0ssible, the good name
Of Mr.. Atkinson, who is known far
and near as the true friend OF the
miner.
No king ever sat upon thrown
who commanded more respect and
love, of those around him than he
does. When Smith talks of false
weights, he knows not what he is
talking about, and the indications
are that he has never fully recovered
from the effects of that good fog
ging he got while prowling around
where he had no business. While
here i'm darlington he was known as
a chronic grumbler, undeserving of
the respect of his fellow man and
unworthy Of trust or confidence.
The following clipping shows what
effect the waive of prosperity has on
the coal supply In the west:
| "BituminOus coal is In strong de-
mand all through the Western
States, and current inquiry is much
greater than the supply. While this
Is applicable TO all kinds of soft coal
it Is particularly so to the Eastern
varieties. Ohio and West Virginia
Goals are very short, running well
into thousands of cars, with little
hope of any relief in the near future.
The same applies to Indiana and Ill
inois coal, though probably in q
lesser degree because the car service
is more closely looked into. The
practical settlement OF the New
River strike in West Virginia, will
relieve the situation to some extent,
but the tension is strong and the de-
mand for coal growing more brisk
very day. AS stated last week SO
great has become the scarcity of
coal in Kansas, that confiscation by
railroads is common, everyday oc-
currence. There Is practically no
stock of coal at any of the important
centers of trade and manufacture In
the West, which Is due to the great
activity in all Industrial lines. Rail
roads are calling for increased ship
ments OH their contracts, which, OF
course, reduces the amount avail
able for commercial purposes, A
very large tonnage of coal is being
sent north and northwest on account
of the positive shortage on docks at
ports on the western shore of Lake
Michigan. 1t is clearly evident that
there Is going to be great difficulty in
supplying the demand for soft coal
| this season.
Coke continues active and prices
strong"
President Mckinley was greeted
| by enfhnRiaStic thousands at Gales