Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-24
MANY MINES IDLE
Resumption Of Work Some
what Disappointing,
STATUS OF TEE VARIOUS COMPANIES
4 Little Less Than Two-thirds Of
the Galleries In Operation and
Coal Output One-haIf the
Normal AzoWut


WILKESBARRE, Pa, Oct 24.-Tht
resumption of mining throughout the
anthracite region has not been as gen
eral as was expected. Unlocked for diff.
fculties were encountered in the shape
of water and accumulated gas, and
dangerous roofs which threatened to
fall and entomb the workers were also
discovered in many of the collieries.
The mine superintendent would take
no chances, and the mining Of coal was
put off until all parts of the under
ground workings can be made safe.
This will take few days yet, and in
some cases it will take weeks before
some of the mines can be put in full
operation.
Although work is being carried on in
some mines which are not considered
in the best of condition, no accidents
have been reported. In quite a few
of the coIlieries the machinery and ev-
erything else connected with the hoist
ing of coal acted badly, and it was
found necessary to close down after
steam had been raised and the miners
were ready to go to work.
From reports received from the entire
anthracite region the number of mines
in operation is given as little less
than two-thirds of the total number,
but the output of coal is less than half
the normal.
The Delaware, Iackawanna and
Western company take the lead in the
production. Their collieries are in bet
ter shape than the mines operated by
the other large companies. About one
half the mines of the Delaware and
Hudson company are working, and the
output of those in operation are light.
The mines of the Susquehanna Coal
company at Nanticole are in operation,
but only the upper levels can be work
ed, as the lower levels contain consid-
cradle water. In three days, however,
it is expected that the output of coal
will reach the full quota.
The Lehigh Valley Coal company is
operating about one-half of it's mines
with full force of men. The Lehigh
and Wilkesbarre Coal company is min
ing coal in several of its big mines, but
all of its collieries will not be in condf-
ton to resume before Monday.
The Kingston Coal company has
started up two of its collieries. The
other two will start on Monday. The
Parish company will not resume until
Monday.
AS was to be expected, there was
more or less dissatisfaction among the
old employees over the reopening of
the mines. Where it was decided not
to resume work for a few days the
men took it that the coal companies
did not want their services, and many
complaints reached President Mitchell's
headquarters. Until all the collieries
do resume there will be more or less
idle men airing their discomfort.
It looks as though the unien engi-
neers were going to have some difficult
ty getting hack their old places. At
nearly every mine where the striking
engineers made application for work
they were told that there were no va
cancies. A large number of carpenters
are also out in the cold.
President Mitchell believes that when
general resumption takes place there
will be few of the mine employees idle.
The firemen are being taken back in
larger numbers than any of the other
steam men. That is because they are
experienced, and they take the places
of men who are not SO capable. The
only friction reported between union
and nonunion men was at several col
lieries in the Wyoming region, where
the miners objected to be lowered into
the mines by nonunion engineers