Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-18
THE WORLD OF LABOR.
INDUSTRIAL ITEMS OF INTEREST TO
THIS REGIONS WORKERS.
Notes and Comments on Matters feet
ing the People who Labor in Mines,
on Railroads and in Other Branches of
Toll.

ing the People Who Labor in Mines,
on Railroads and in Other Branches of
Toll.
A committee made up of one repre-
sentative from each of the branches of
the Lehigh Valley Railroad visited
Superintendent Wilbur at Bethlehem
last week and presented petition pray
ing for an equalization of wages among
brakemen. The men on the Wyoming
division receive 5 cents more per day
than those employed on the HazIeton
division, while tho men on the other
divisions are paid much higher rate.
Employees of the ID. S. & S. Railroad
report steady deterioration of the
rolling stock and increased hardShps
for the trainmen. The aim of the man
agement is to present extraordinary
profits to the Stockholders each year,
regardless of the effect upon the iron
and muscle controlled The road was
at one time considered the best in this
part OF the state to work for, now it
has sunk to the lowest.
Markle &; Co. s employees at Highland,
Jeddo, Oakdale, Ebervae and Harleigh
will receive their May pay next Satur-
day-almost eight weeks after some of
it was earned. 1t is unjust to keep
workers out of their wages so long, and
If progressive firm like the Markles
cannot or will not obey the semi-month-
ly pay law they should show little
charity by paying on or about the 18th
of each month.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany has awarded contracts to erect two
mammoth breakers in the Panther Creek
valley, to be known as Nos. IL and 6.
Work on No. II, which will have ca
pacity of 1000 tons daily, will be com
menced at once and finished in ninety
days, when work on No. 6 will be start
ed. Both structures will be equipped
with all the latest improved machinery
Retrenchment is the order of the day
on the Lehigh Valley. An order has
been issued to all superintendents and
master mechanics instructing them to
curtail expenses in every department
and further instructing them to cease
all new work. The order is general
and affects all divisions alike. What
the object is no one seems to be able to
explain.
1t has been announced from reliable
source that all the general stores con-
NJ fnI urtt hn r. Al IT I
Iron Company, formerly Simpson &
watkins, will close on July /, and after
that date the employees of the company
may buy their goods where they please
The company has stores at Wyoming
and Duryea in this county
There is practically no change in
hard coal, and operators are waiting for
the period of buying to set in. Prices
are well maintained, and, according to
the Coal Trade Journal there is the sug-
gestion that values may be advanced in
some directions. After July there is
usually an active season until the clos
ing of the year.
1t is reported that the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad is behind the new Scranton
and Northeastern road, which intends
to operate a double-track rapid transit
road between Scranton and Wilkes barre
and that the line is to be used to intro
duce the Pennsylvania into Scranton.
A. L. McAllister, of Hazleton, con-
ferred last week with a number of
Tamaqua's moneyed men regarding the
location of new silk mill in that town.
If Tamaqua does not take up the pro-
position he will endeavor to establish
the industry at Wilkesbarre.
The United States Lnre.tor is authority
for the statement that William X. Van
derbilt, who recently secured 81 ,000,-
600 interest in the Lehigh Valley Rail
road Company, is anxious to depose
Alfred Walter from the presidency.
There was taken from the Halle
Mines collery one day last week piece
of slate which resembles petrified tur-
tie. The curiosity is now on exhibition
at the Lehigh Valley Coal Company's
Office at lIazleton.
The Lehigh Valley has put in new
mileposts on this division. They are
made entirely of iron and show the dis
tance from New York. The old style
square wooden posts are being removed
Coke Bros. & Co.'S new breaker at
Beaver Meadow was given thorough
test on Friday and the machinery was
James E. Roderick, chief of the state
bureau of mines, combined business and
politics in the town and vicinity on
Thursday.