Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-08-12
RIVER WAGE RATE Fight.
COAL COMBINE PROPOSES TO CUT
THE SALARIES OF THE
PILOTS.
WOULD MEAN BIG LOSS
To the Concerns Men-An Tnvesti-
CATION Into the Trouble of the
Elizabeth and j. C. Woodward
SHAREHOLDER News.

Starts-OrRcr news.
PITTSBURG, August 11-Quite an
interesting contest between the Mon
ongahela River Consolidated Coal G.
Coke Company and the pilots and
masters in the concerns employ pro-
misses to materialaize as the time for
renewing the wage scale draws near.
The present wage rate holds good un-
til October 1. Under its provisions the
pilots who signed yearly contracts are
receiving $500 and the combined du-
ties Of master pilots are scheduled as
worth S2,400 year. While the officials
OF the river coal combine refuse to talk
ABOUT the subject and the masters
and pilots are sheduled as worth 81, 400
year. While the officials of the river
coal combine refuse to talk about the
subject and the masters and pilots are
rather retieent, it has been learned that
the combine will try to out salaries for
the coming year.
The combine, it is said, will pro-
! pose to give masters and pilots $500
for yearly contract and the pilots,
/ if the combines rate should go
through, will receive $500 year less,
or $1.400. The men who handle the
| towboats are becoming worked UP over
the matter. The combine wanted to
| reduce salaries when the scale was
| formed last year, claiming that they
had taken cheaper contracts which
| they must fill, and that the employer
should share the adverse conditions
with them Since then the price of
coal has advanced until they are re-
| ceiving as much as before they were
obliged to contract at low rate in
! order TO meet the prices of competi-
ton.
The pilots, it Is understood, are
against the yearly contract because
1t ties them up too closeliy They
viii demand that they receive $175 for
a trip to Louisville as pilots and $205
as master and pilot. or $50 additional.
When the rivermen secure the cheap
rate, they are free to &C as they wish
when they bring their boat into the
harbor. Short trips in the>- harbor
and pools give them employment when
they are not down the river and this
proves more profitable than the year,
ly contract salary. By the trip ar
rangement they are not subject to or
ders when a trip has been finished
The water in the Ohio river is lower
| now than it has been here this season.
and the indications for a rise soon are
not very encouraging at the present
time. August and September as a rule
are not very reliable in regard to navi-
CATION.
The Cricket was at Rochester yester-
day, where she reshipped her passens-
ers and freight. 1t was the intention
of Captain Green to come on up to
Duff" where the Greenwood has been
aground for week and return from
that point with the freight of the
| Greenwood. He says the cricket as a
low water packet is a success; that she
only draws Is inches light.
The Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet
line commenced business on November
q, 1899, and has been in commission al
most ever since until within a few days.
The Keystone State was the last boat
of the line to quit. having been laid
up at Cincinnati on Thursday OF this
week.
The investigation by the local in
speotors in regard to the I. C. Wood
ward and Elizabeth trouble was COM
menced yesterday The inspectors are
taking evidence. out 1t will be some
time before they are ready to make
their report, which will have to be sent
to Washington before it is made pub
lie.
The Burnside is laid up at Cincinnati
by reason of a cracked cylinder
The new coal digger for the Marmet
Coal Company is almost completed.
The towbOat Venus is on the wa.vs at
| Madison. She viii be almost entirely
| rebuilt.
Howard is going to rebuild the Unit
ed States Arkansas river snagboat G.
r. Rees.
The towboats John Moren, ]. C. Rish-
er, Fallie, and Volunteer are laid up at
| Middleoort.
The John A. Wood and Raymond
Horner are on the way to New Orleans
| with coal lows.
Rivermen complain that both OF the
| bridges at Brownsville are an obstruc-
ton to navigation.
There is more OF the wreck of the
Dick Brown above the water now than
at any time since she went down.