The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-19

The Oxford colliery of the Peoples
Coal company, in West Scranton, will
likely have the distinction of being the
first to resume operations. If any other
collery wants to gain this distinction
1t will have to begin operations with
out many days delay.
AS told exclusively in yesterday 8
Tribune, the Peoples company sent to
Nicholson for fifteen of It's seventy
mules, which have been there in pas
ture since the beginning of the strike.
When seen yesterday regarding the
purpose of bringing back the mules,
superintendent Hayes said at first,
with smile, that the pasturage wasn't
good, but followed 1t with the declar-
alton in serious tones that the purpose
of bringing back the mules, as was evil
dent, was to start up the collery.
1--WE will start up the colllery," said
Mr.. Hayes, "just as soon as we can get
things in shape. We have flfty-five men
underground and twenty men around
the breaker cleaning up and making
repairs. The mules will be used in the
work of cleaning up the roads. When
this work is finished, the rest of the
mules will be brought back and the
ASKED FOR WORK.
"The employees of the company have
come around from time to time in ones,
twos and somewhat larger groups, ask
ing for work. AS many as could be
used were put at work cleaning up the
roads and making repairs. Those who
could not be given immediate employ
ment were told they would be sent for
when needed. The company has sent
word to these men that the colliery will
be started uH if they will go to work,
and enough of them have replied that
they will resume their places to war;
rant the company in reopening the
NINE"
Many of the men who have signified
their intention to return to work are
fathers of boys who worked in the
breaker. These boys will be brought to
work by their fathers. The company
employed 800 hands. exclusive of
breaker boys. More than a majority
are expected to return to work.
The superintendents of the other
companies continue to claim that there
are no active efforts being made on
their part to start up few collieries,
claims are not wholly in accord with
the facts. Men who have applied for
reinstatement in some companies have
been told that If they come around with
others who are willing to work, col
liery will be opened up for them. These
men have gone out and secured the
names of others who are ready to go
back to work, and these lists of names
~ iy, t1,1
tendents.
Those who want work at once are
sent into the different collieries clean
ing up roads, timbering. working on
rock and the like. Gradually their
numbers are growing. and in the course
of a week or so it is confidently eX-
pected will have enough men on hand
to warrant the experiment OF resuming
mining operations. With the men at
present at work and those who have
declared their willingness to go back
to work. when mine would be started,
the company will have a: least the
nucleus of an operating force. When
one mine starts, the companies expect
others will follow suit.
IS PROBLEMATIC.
Whether or not the contemplated ac-
ton of the indianapolis convention will
have a deterring effect on these plans
of the companies is now a foremost
question. A million dollars month in
subscriptions would give each striker
about 81 a week benefits. 1t is pro-
posed to raise two millions a month.
With this latter figure the miners could
be at least supplied with actual neces-
sites, and it is quite possible they could
be induced to remain out for many
months under these circumstances.
Taking into consideration the fact that
there is more than one striker in many
families; that many miners have left
the region and that many more have
secured temporary employment, it can
be seen that even a million dollars
month will go a great ways towards
comfortably supporting every mining
family in the region.
The benefit fund will, at all events,
prolong the strike.