Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-21
WOULD LAST THREE MONTHS
Secretary Wilson Makes Estimate Of Present
Supply Of Bituminous Coal.
STRIKE WOULD AFFECT ALL FACTORIES
Vast Industrial Machinery Through
out United States wouId he Hnndi-
capped for Fuel ~ suspen-
sion OF work Comes.

INDIANAPOLIS. June o0.-It is estimated
by Mr.. W. B. Wilson, secretary and treas
urer Of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, that the present supply Of bituminous
and anthracite coal above ground would
be exhausted in less than three months II
there should be a general suspension Of
work In the mines. According to this esti-
mate, II the national convention Of mine
workers in Indianapolis, July II. should
vote for a general suspension of work in
support Of the anthracite strike, as is now
proposed, the vast Industrial machinery Of
the United States would be handicapped for
fuel, so that thousands Of factories would
have to suspend work.
Mr.. Wilson has statistics showing that
there are approximately $50, 900 miners in
the country, scattered through thirty states.
The miners Of twenty-four states would be
actively involved IL there should be a sus-
pension Of operations. In Idaho, Nevada,
California, the Dakotas, North Carolina.
and two or three other states, brown coal,
known as Ignite, is mined, but the organiza-
tion did not take these states into con-
sideration when 1t issued a call yesterday
for the national convention. There are now
over 800, 900 members of the mine workers
organized. Mr.. Wilson says that nearly
every %non-union man would go out II a
general suspension Of work should be or
dered. During the first anthracite strike
two years ago there were only 5000 an
thracite men in the organization, yet over
125, 900 went out.
The anthracite organization now includes
147, 900 men and since the strike was ordered
a few days ago many Virginia and West
Virginia men have come into the union.
Probably the largest supply of coal is in
the bins at Buffalo, N. Y, and other cities
along the great lakes.
Canada has no coal on which this country
could draw IL there should be a general
tieup. The British Isles might supply a
part of the market, but at a price that
would be almost prohibitive to the manu-
facturers and ordinary consumers. The
tariff on imported coal is so cents a ton
more than the miners receive, as a rule, for
mining in the United States.
At the coming convention the belief is
that the competitive district-western
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois
will take a hand against a general strike.
These states have contracts that they do
not want to break. The combined vote
Of the competitive district, with that of
Iowa, is expected to prove strong enough
to prevent the success of the proposition
for a general strike.
There are a number of states whose
agreements expire July 1, and it will de-
pend largely on the outcome of the de-
alterations between the operators and
miners as to where the balance of power
will lie in the convention.
NEW YORK, June 20.-The coal strike
in the anthracite region is compelling many
of the large local dealers to look abroad fol
relief. Manager Herbert Of the firm Of
| Herbert & Co. said today that he had COM
munication with some of the anthracite
mine operators In Cardiff, Wales, for the
importation Of a supply of anthracite coal
and that he looked for a reply to his in
quiry tomorrow. The class Of coal he de-
sires, he says, is the broken anthracite
suitable for use in locomotives and fur
naces. This class Of coal, he said, pre-
vious to the strike sold for about $3.50
ton. He expected. if he made a deal witt
the Welch mine owners, 1t would cost 81
in New York.
Present Deserted Appearance.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, June 2O.-Extremt
quietness continues to prevail Throughout
the Wyoming region. Strike headquarter'
presented a deserted appearance all fore
noon, district leaders, with the excep,
ton Of President Mitchell, being scat.
tered through the coal belt. There wa
no change noticeable in the working forcei
Of the coal companies, very few If any mel
being brought out in this valley today.
Output to BE Restricted.
CLEARFIELD, Pa, June 2o.-Patrick Gil
day, president Of the district miners union
issued an official order today reciting tina
bituminous coal is being shipped to points
east to G.d in breaking the strike in tn,
anthracite region. In order to prevent tn
it is ordered that the output Of northern
and central Pennsylvania be restricted an
the miners are ordered not to work NOR
than four days a week, The order is tn
result Of an interview between Presiden
Gilday and President Mitchell.