New-York tribune., 1902-05-26
PREPARING FOR A SIEGE
OPERATORS INTRENCH THEIR MINES
AGAINST PUTATIVE ATTACKS
OF STRIKERS.
rBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.J J

=s-illzesbarre Penn, MAY 25-To-day marks the
END the second week of the strike, and during It's
avelv working days, with the present market, the
losses have been as follows:
Miners loss in So SEA 600
Is ~ erDloyes IS exclusive Of strikers sos 600
loss by depreciation Of business in anthracite ~ -
region loooo
Total e9ioeo
President T. D. Nichols Of the United Mine Work
srs. Scranton district. speaking to-day Of the
rack made by The Rev I. J. Lansing Of Scranton.
the strikers in which he said their leaders
not sober said:
1t appears 10 that the Rev. Mr.. Lansing
knows very little about his home surroundings or
Inc people % here "a a iaTSe number OF the men IN
abstaineTs from inJoXicants. am a total abstaner
The president another anthracite district is also
a iotsi aosIalner: az "eIy without qualification the
prove OF The strike. The majority of members
are better than half sober they sober and in
dustrious and by their decided 90 On strike
There IS now doubt that the operators viii
refuse 10 grant The demands Of the firemen. en-
gineers and pumpmon. for Ihey are rushing prep
arations 10 house and guard the men who will take
the places Of the strikers. Most Of the companies
are building houses at the mines within the high
board fences and in these the non-unIon men and
Others who VIII keep steam up and the pumps go
3ng viii live, with coal ana iron police 10 prevent
outside interfereuce. Large quantities of bedding
cooking utensils and supplies now being stored
and there have been sales of large cooking stoves
70 many Of the companies.
Some Of the companies nave sold the old mules
which It would hardly be- worth while to take into
the mines again, and have made every prepara-
zion for q long siege. The examinations Of the
snines that have been made in the last few days
1t IS learned. were to close UP workings en-
trely and 10 determine how many OF the collieries
could be allowed TO iii with water without dam
age The general conditions all will be re-
ported TO the heads Of the companies. The conf
dence OF the operators that they will be able to
I'll the places of all who quit work is growing
with each day, and they say to-day that in no por-
fion OF the region viii there be any particular
trouble in keeping the mines clear. They feel as
ssured that only per cent of the engineers
will go strike and that half the pumpmen
Tviu 90 out As to the fr-ment- they admit that
1ew VIII remain. and in is the places Of these
(which they are preparing 10 I'LL Realizing where
they weak the strikers are calling for this
week meeting Of the engineers and pumpmen at
which effort VIII be made arouse the strike
fever and gain th4ir consent strike when the
dremen do. but difficulty has already been found in
Inducing these two classes to attend the meeting
Most Of the locals to-day appointed committees to
wait the superintendents and present to them
the demand for eight hour day. according TO
the instructions OF the executive committee. Meet
sngs Of tho individual operators have been held in
Scranton and Haz!oton. and it is said that some
VIII grant the eight hour day 10 the men now at
work. but they will not make any staetment re-
garding it. Some will find II difficult TO keep
y
did the Kingston Coal Company and smaller
individual companies during the ircmen's strike
last fal-grant the deman nds with the proviso that
unless the big companies also do so at the end
OF the strike they viii not be held 10 their agree
gnent-
When the strike was declared the upper Lehigh
Coal Company allowed its 80. slope 10 fill with
water, not desiring the expense of keeping ii dry
and this IS TO lead a lawsuit The slope over
flowed and the sulphur water poured into Olney
Greek; then into Honey Hole and Nescopeck creeks
Game Association has taken up the matter
and Will begin suit for damages Other slopes
I
similar damage
Yesterday closed the second week Of the strike
and since II began the miners have lost in wages
e5Sz0 By Wednesday Of this week the miners will
have received all the money earned by them from
-he first OF the month the the strike was de
cIared, and VIII have no more unless they earn II
at outside Jobs. until the strike is ended.
The efforts OF the strikers will be directed this
week 20 shutting down the Coiliery at Bernice
where the only coal now mined in the anthracite re.
gion is being produced Ntce-P President Adam Rus
has beea sent there 20 take charge OF rhs
movement The mine ha- been in strike for ff-
teen months, and some months nearly a full
70 run the coliery. II has since been mining about
900 week. II is understood that the strikers
# they fail by peace bic means 70 get the work
4rs 70 stop, viii march on the colliery. The State
line and Sullivan County Railroad Company
which owns Il. is making preparations TO guard 4
AGAINST assault, and number ot coal and iron po
llcemen on guard.
,T-fe rneettnes OF railroa6ers which were held a
various points n the coal region this afternoon ant
evening failed 10 take the decided stand that thos
who have been causing the strike agitation desired
The majority OF the were Of the opinion lha
while they could declare their sympathy for III
strikers and hope that they will win, they canno
81 mined BY union miners: but in the event Of
etrike IN the soft coal fields they could refuse Il
tAh6s-S any soft coal mined by non-upion men