The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-10-29
TURN MINERS BACK.
Operators Refuse to Discharge Com.
petent Men to Reinstate For.
mer Workmen.

Employees of the different collieries
In the Shenandoah region whose
places were filled by non.unon men
during the strike will not be rein
stated This fact was made plain to
the men when they reported at the
collierics for work Superintendent
Adam Boyd. of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, said
that his company would take care of
all men who helped them during the
strike, and that anyone who molestod
the workers would be discharged at
once. Under these conditions a par
tial resumption of activity was made
Thursday. ~ all but two of the col.
licries steam was raised for the first
time in six months. II will take at
least two weeks before active mining
can be commenced. II win be a
month before as per cent of the pos
siblc output Is being mined. The
most serious situation is the reten.
tion of the non-union men who work
ed the pumps and assisted In saving
heavy losses at the mines by food.
ing. II was for these men the engi.
neers, firemen and pumpmen that a
fight was made at the Wilkesbarre
convention. Those who have re-.
ceved the edict of their employers
that their places are taken, are dis
gruntled. The local unions have been
applied to, but they are powerless
unless they rcpudiate the advice OF
their president. Superintendent Boyd
in discussing the matter said "Tc
all men who applied to us for worl,
we told them that in the instances
where tho places had not been filled
by competent men positions were
waiting for them. We propose tC
take care of all the pumpmen, engi
necrs and fremen who aided us dur
ing the strike regardless of circum
stances. To employees whose places
are filed we have not refused EN-
ployment in the mines entirely, bu'
| have refused them the places thai
they formerly held. If they so de
sire they can go to work in other
positions. When the Lehigh Goa
and Navigation Companys miners re
| ported for duty in the Panther Creel
valley at Tamaqua they were met by
| the officials and told their services
of the collieries the men were stop
ped by the guards. who refused to al
low them to report at the colliery Of
fee. The company posted the follow
ing notice: Any person WORKING
for this company guilty of ill.treat
ment or molesting any man who has
worked during the late strike, or o
/ abusing any member of his family
4 will be Immediately discharged" AL
the individual operations in this sec
/ tion resumed full handed Thursday
| At Wilkesbarre the resumption was
not as general as was expected. Tn
/ looked for difficulties were encoun
tered in the shape of water and &C
cumulated gas, and dangerous roofs
which threatened to fall and entoml
the workers. were also discovered IL
many of the collieries. The mine su
perintendents would take no chances
and the mining of coal was put "
until all parts of the undergroun,
workings can be made safe. From
reports received from the entire an
thracite region the number of mine
in operation is given as a little les
than two-thirds of the total number
but the output of coal was less thai
half the normal The Delaware
Ilackawanna & Western Compan
took the lead in production. Its co
lieries are in better shape than tn
mines operated by the other larG
companies. About one-half Of tn
mines of the Delaware C Hudson
Company are working. The mines o
the Susquehanna Coal Company a
Nanticoke are in operation. but onl
the upper levels could be worked, a
the lower levels contain considerable
water. The Lehigh Valley Coal Con
pany operated about one-half Of it
mines with q full force of men. TIL
Lehigh & Willxesbarre Coal Compan
mined coal in several big mines. Til
Kingston Coal Company started IL
two OF its four collieries. Only tw
of the 2S collieries in the Hazleto
district resumed operations. Thos
operating are the Halle mines, breal
er of the Lehigh Valley Coal Con
: pany, and the Upper I.ehigh mine {
| tho Irpnor I nbioh Goal rap,n,n,.