Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-05
LOCAL LABOR NOTES.

The Delaware and Hudson miners in
the Lackawanna region are much exer-
ciSed over circular just issued by the
company instructing them to pay their
debts to storekeepers and others. The
employees consider this action an insult,
particularly so as the company has been
paying them small wages and running
short time. The matter is being dis
cussed officially at the meetings of the
United Mine Workers.
The Nanticoke and Plymouth con-
tractors have granted the requests of
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners OF those places. Hereafter
nine hours will constitute a days work
and carfare will be paid whenever it is
necessary to go out of town to work
Overtime will be paid for at the rate of
time and a half. Sunday work will be
paid for at the rate of double time.
Almost nightly the organizers of the
United Mine Workers are forming new
branches in the Schnylkill region. This
week the men at Buck Mountain, Park
Place, Mahanoy and New Boston col
lieries have been brought into the fold
in large numbers, and it is the Unions
intention to continue the work, organiz-
ing,a local at every colliery in that dis
trict.
The Lehigh Valley Company will
shortly commence the erection of a
mammoth breaker at Lost Creek, which
will, when completed, possibly be the
largest in the service of the company.
Two million feet of lumber will be used
in its construction, with iron tubing
eighteen inches in diameter as Il frame
work.
The Blakeslee Bros, of Mauch Chunk.
have awarded the contract for the re-
construction of the entire switchback
line. The work will employ about 200
mon for several weeks. A new stack
and tracks will be laid at Mt. Pisgah
plane and the entire road repaired The
switchback will start running in May.
rumor is current in railroad circles
that the Jersey Central is contemplat-
ing to reduce the working force along
its line from Scranton to Jersey City to
the number of nearly 600. This will
affect every branch in the service of the
company.
Mine Inspector Davies reports twelve
accidents in this district during March,
one of which was fatal Frank Ward,
who is survived by wife and ten
children. For the first quarter of 1900
there have been nineteen fatal acci-
dents.
A company Of capitalists from the
Wyoming valley have organized the
Wilkesbarre Investment Company with
capital of $500, 900, and will purchase
an extensive cotton mill at Dennison,
Texas.
The strike of the lace workers at the
Wilkesbarre lace mills is still on, and
the men from the Brooklyn Lace
Workers Association, who took the
strikers places, are still at the mill.
The Reading Company contemplates
number of changes at its Pottsvillle shops
which Will very materially increase
their capacity and will give work to
much larger force of men.
The rate of wages at the colieries in
the Schuylkill region for the last half
of the month of March and first half
of April will be 2 per cent above the
So. so basis.
Adam Lesser has been appointed
general inside superintendent of the
Upper Lehigh and Nescopeck coal com
panes collieries.
Drifton shops began working eight
hours day yesterday. The order
affects every department of the shops.
While drilling an artesian we'll in
Quakake valley a rich vein of anthra-
cite coal was discovered.