The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-21

lhonCiuutN HVi" ~
ply of culn cut off and is unable to
make steam at its power plant in suf-
ficient quantity to run its dynamos
with any degree of satisfaction. I'm
washed culm, just as it comes from
the dump, only a part of which is
combustible, is being used in the fur
naces.
The decreased power necessitated
taking off from the trolley lines
the heavier cars and Substituting
smaller ones, and these contendng
against weakened power and the Slip
perry rails that resulted from the
drizzling rain, made it impossible for
those on heavy grades to do much
more than creep, at certain times
during the day.
Some jubilation was oCcasoned
among the mine workers yesterday by
the first break in the ranks of the
operators. Michael Gibbons, superin-
tendent of the Gibbons Coal COM
pany, appeared at the district head
quarters during the day, signed the
union scale and agreed to close the
mine till the executive board of the
union has had opportunity to pass
upon his request to have the Glib
bons mine exempted from the strike
order.
The board is disposed, II is said, to
grant the request, conditional that the
company furnishes no coal to custo-
ners other than the school district.
hartley Biglin, one of the officers of
the Carbondale local union of the
Mine Workers, telephoned to strike
headquarters yesterday afternoon that
John Murvin, a small operator there,
was willing to sign the union scale II
the strike would be raised from his
place. Secretary Dempsey said that
Mr.. Murvin should sign the scale first
and then make his request. 1t is eX
pected he will come down today to
confer with the board.
The Columbus washery is working
with practically a full force, but it
is only running every other day. The
employees, while not union men, are
in sympathy with the strikers, and
do not want to prepare any coal eX
cept for the electric light plant, of
which the washery is a part. The
| electric light plant can be supplied
on half time, hence the shut down
| every other day.
The Mine Workers officers have not
sanctioned this, but the employees
think they are doing what is fair to
| the strikers and fair 20 their employ
| ers, and that if either side doesn't
| like their plan, that side can, in the
| language of the curb, lump it,"
| Frank Hawley, of Chicago, grand
master of the Switchmens union, was
in the city yesterday, and his pres
| ence gave rise to the report that
something official was to be done con-
! cerning the matter of swtchmen
| handling coal cars.
! Mr.. Hawley said he had simply
stopped off on his way from New
| York to Chicago to visit his parents
who live in West Scranton. officers
of the local Switchmen's union cor
roborated this in their genuine ex-
| pressions of surprise at being told of
his presence in Scranton. One and
| all positively avowed that Mr.. Hawley
| had not been sent for.
| 1t was learned positively last night,
however, that the switchmen will have
q conference tonight with Grand Mas
ter Hawley, at Carpenters hall, Wy
oming avenue, and that the matter
of handling "scab" coal will be the
| subject of the conference.
| =. II. Morrisey, of Galesburg, Ill.
grand master of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen, has also been sent
for to advise with the trainmen OF
the same matter. Mr.. Morrisey is ex-
pected here Sunday.
Some boys stoned a Delaware Lack
awanna and Western brakeman named
Peter Ennis, who was engaged in put.
ting six cars into the Bellevue XaShery
switch yesterday afternoon. They
were young irresponsible urchins to the
number of not more than half a dozer
and scampered away when the brake
man started to come for them.
Electric lights are being placed about
the Bellevue and Dodge collieries
They will be supplied from the Belle
vue breaker power plant.