Evening journal., 1901-07-17
STEEL STRIKE
TIES UP NINES
Many Thousands Of Men Out
in Coal Region
MINES ALREADY FLOORING
Big Coal Companies, II Is Said, Re-
fuse to Make COnceSSiOH-Yire-
men Nav Go Out

Viikesbarre. Pa. July 1.-THE sec.
end day of the strike OF the stationary
aremon. inaugurated at o'clock yes
tcrday morning. shows that nearly all
the mines in the Wyoming valley are
tied up, and conservative estimates
place the number Of men out at $4,000
Every mine from Pittston to Nantcoke
A. affected.
Some Of the coal operators con
ceded the demands of their employees
on condition that the short hour day
was not TO hold IL the men employed
by the big companies did not get the
same concessions.
The big coal companies, however,
refused to make any concessions. The
officials claimed that the demands of
the dremen were unreasonable; that
they had received a 10 per cent. in
crease when the wages Of the miners
was raised last fan, and that the de-
mands now made upon the companies
was equal to a 20 per cent advance.
Yesterday the operators were al
their wits ends TO keep the water from
flooding the mines
AT the Pine Ridge collicry OF the
Algonquin Coal company the water ac.
cumulatcd rapidly when the fires we're
drawn in the boilers. and Il is said
considerable damage was done Some
of The hoisting engineers remained at
their posts, but their services were not
needed in the absence OF the firemen.
In some cases, so it is reported, where
engineers We're asked to DO firing they
refused and quit their jobs
The strikers held a meeting in this
city yesterday. Reports were received
from all the districts. and they showed
that the strike from Pittston 10 Shick-
shiny was general, and that the coal
companies were unable TO secure new
men to take the places of the strikers.
although it was claimed they had
mad desperate efforts TO do so.
It is generally conceded that the dur
alton Of the strike will depend upon
the miners r. they stand blythe striking
fremeu the lockout may be long one.
but if the miners return 10 work as
coon as the companies fin the places OF
the strikers the strike will be lost to
the iiremen. Despite tips sent out from
headquarters of the United Mine Work
ors 10 IS known that there Is consider
able friction between the United Mine
Workers and the firemen. The minera
think that the strike is inopportunc
and that the flremen should have watt
ed until the present agreement between
tho operators and miners expire before
riakiNe lhall dnands II is also alleged
tnat when the miners went out on
strike last fall the fpomen remained at
work and this has caused q little feel.
ing too. Sill the United Mine Workers
must be governed by their leaders, and
It is known that the heads OF the or.
eanization IN this section are in favor
of the strikers.
Last night the executive committed
OF the United Mine Workers OF District
No. ! met at Scranton and agreed tina
if any iiremen who is a member OF tn,
United Mine Workers ask for instruc
tions as to whether or not he shall g,
on strike, he is 10 be told to continue
at work till further notice.
II is impossible to tell until thi
afternoon how many stationary fire
men viii go on strike in thl
Scranton region as the ultimatum Their
was not TO 80 into general eject unit
this morning. All OF the Delaware
Lacfawpnna and Western mines wer
working Yesterday but nearly an o
The Delaware and Hudson mines wer
shut down The Ontario and Western
and Penrsv'vsnia coliieries were work
ing The fremea AZ the traction com
pany's power house wanted to strike
but were advised to continue at wor
by the strikers executive board be
cause they are working only ten hour
day and receive SIS a month NOR
than the mine fremen.