The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-28
FACTS ABOUT THE STRIKE
The Region Which Is Affected and
lis Annual Output.
The Prices That Have Been Obtained
and the Wages Paid the Miners
Labor Troubles as Far Back ms
1S69-An Operator on the Powder
Observation-Disclosures Of the Union

NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-The strike in
the anthracite coal regions is running into
the second week. and more complete idle
ness is noted day by dag. In view of the
Importance of the question it is well to
have all the facts and figures at command.
AS 10 the amount of coal which is on
hard opinions vary, but with the product
such as it has been during the past eight
or nine months an EXCESS this year ever
last of nearly 1000 600 tons, one might
readily suppose that there was fair
stock of anthracite on hand, held either
by first hands" at the various stocking
places or by the dealers, and some con-
sumers have been forehanded. In any
event, however If one puts the available
supply at the time the suspension was
ordered as equal TO about forty five days
average production, it would represent
the sum total in the hands of the first
two classes, and as demands are made
upon them 1t would not be unusual from
n commercial standpoint, or unfair. il
they took advantage of the SITUATION and
increased the price to the consumer.
Practically all the hard coal mined in
the United States comes from 470 square
miles of territory in the eastern part OF
Pennsylvania, principally from Luzerne,
I.ackawanna Schuylkill. Northumberland.
and Carbon counties. At the present time
the annual output for this region is 54,-
000.000 long tons, in the production OF
which a total of some 10000 men and
boys are engaged.
Coal had been known to exist in the
northern field as early as 176S, having been
worked in small way for local use. but
ii was not until its discovery near Mauch
Chunk in 1871 that efforts were made to
introduce it into the seaboard markets.
The real anthracite industry began with
the opening of the Lehigh Company S
Summit Hill mines in 1920 and the sending
of coal by boat down the Lehigh and Della
ware rivers. the opening of the Sehuylkill
Canal. from Mount Carbon to Philadelphia,
and the Reading Railway the first of the
coal lines, began transportation through to
Pert Richmond. Ever since the civil war
there has been strife over the rate of pay
for digging coal. for efforts to restrict pro-
duction and curtail earnings were heard
Of during the late SOS
Strike I'm 1869.
There was strike in the Schuylkill dis
trict in 1863. 1t was then the largest pro-
ducing district, for Lackawanna did not
come in largely as producer of anthracite
until after 1850. and the Lehigh was, as
now, a small producer. As result of that
strike an agreement was made, giving the
following wages on the basis of SO per ton
for all sizes at Carbon, average selling
price: Miners lday work., S14 per week;
inside labor. SIP per week; outside labor,
81 per week; advance or reduction to be
20 per cent of advance or decline in coal.
Next year was had the Gowen comrro-
mise, as 1t was called, reafirming the
basis OF So per ton, but with g as a
minimum, and wages were TO be advanced
or reduced s IL per cent for each rs
cents advance or decline in the price of
coal. On mining by contract, wages
were to be the same as 1869 bas S. except
that miners earning 800 TO s125 pei
month we're to be reduced 10 per cent,
those earning s125 to $50, 20 per cent
$3.50 to 5000. 80 per cent, and over S2o0. 20
per,c. From these earnings it Will be
seen that we had flush times at the mines
during 1869 and prior thereto.
There was an increased tonnage and
lessening price in 1870, so that in 1871 We
had to call in an umpire 10 decide on new
wages basis, and this was one of the first
efforts at arbitration. Thus in 1871 was
had new basis on decision CT Judge Will
liam Elwell as umpire II fixed bas az
S2.75 per ton, with 81 minimum, with a
reduction on contract work of 10 per cent
below that of 1863. Miners (day work.
were to have s1S per week, inside labor
Sl1 per week, outside labor $40 per week,
and wages TO be advanced or reduced l
per cent for each cents per ton advance
or decline in coal. This was changed in
1872 only to slight degree, for the basis
was fixed at $3.50 per ton as a minimum
except for two months, April and May
when 1t was allowed TO drop to rs as
a minimum.
Contract work reduced S14 per cent
below basis of 1871. Miners, $I3 per week
Inside labor, sl1 per week. Outside labor,
$40 per week. Advance of / per cent on
wages for each 3 cent? per ton rise in
coal. This is the Schuyli,ill region basis.
and in spite of many efforts to secure
modification 1t has stood until the present
time although wages have been paid
more frequently on rate below the basis
than above, as hard coal has declined in
value.
Then in 1875 we had the Lehigh basis
agreed upon, which was as follows: When
coal sells at tidewater at s. per ton, the
price of Hazleton Taines colliery cars will
be 81 cents; at $50 per ton. So cents; at
81 per ton, rs cents; at $3.50 per ton. "A
CENTS. Miners wages per week: At $3.50
Tor coal, sl071; at 81. $i1-34; at $3.50.
$11.97; at IS. $3.50. Laborers' wages per
week: At $3.50 for coal, S9.ls; at 81,
1912; at $3.50. si0.z6; at S. S10.S0. A
week is sixty hours. Inasmuch as coal
has not been selling at any such price as
So in New York harbor. IL has been neces-
sary to cut to the minimum named above
and this with the short time that has
been had al the mines is what, in the