The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-10
One Hundred Galleries Out of the 40
in the State Forced to Sus-
pend Operations.
FIELD TO BE DEPOPULATED
STRIKERS WILL BE SENT TO ILL
NOIS AND OTHER STATES.
Already Made for
Transporting 5000 Miners-COaI
Scarce i'm the Cities.

DENVER, COL, Nov. 9.-More than 10000
coal miners in Colorado went on strike to-
day for an eight-hour day, increased wages
and other concessions. The strike was or
dered by the national officers of the United
Mine Workers of America after the coal
companies refusal to confer with union
representatives concerning the demands Of
the men. OF the idle men 5000 are in the
southern coal fields, 1900 in the northern
coal fields, and 800 are in Fremont county.
One hundred mines have been closed.
There are a few Independent properties
in the northern coal fields, and eleven will
not stop work, since the operators have
agreed TO concede the eight-hour day and
also to increase wages. Fewer than 1000
miners will remain at work. according to
reports from the affected regions. The an
nouncement comes that 600 men have gone
out in Colfax county. The other mines in
that territory are negotiating with the
miners. The Colorado Fuel and Iron, the
Victor Fuel, and the Northern Coal and
Coke companies are the largest producers.
Nearly all of their property has been tied
up by the action of the miners. However,
they making efforts to continue opera
tons under the protection Of a strong
guard.
There are about 40 coal mines in Colorado
with an output of some 5000, 600 tons of coal
and about 100000 tons of coke year. 1t
will be the policy of the United Mine Work.
ers to depopulate the various coal fields by
sending the idle men and their families to
Illinois, Indian Territory, Missouri, Iowa.
and other States where work can be Sc
cured for them. Some 5000 tickets to these
States have already been arranged for by
the mine workers, and to-day hundreds of
the strikers started for new fields.
ID. c. Evans, member of the executive
board of the national organization, of In
diana, is now at Trinidad TO handle the
financial end of the strike. Other men,
bers of the executive board are in Colorado
and will have charge of the campaign dur
ing the struggle, one being stationed IN the
centers of each strike field
General Manager James +. Welborn, OF
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, an
nounced to-day that the company would
continue to operate it's mines and the pub
lie need have no fear OF a coal famine.
At the office of the Victor Fuel Company
it was announced that all it's mines were
in operation and would continue 10 De OPP
Grated. The large companies operating IN
the northern field admitted that their mines
were closed. Not over 150 men are working
in the northern fields.
Residents of Denver and other cities
IOunQ i lupOSSlDit iO-udy W cSCuiS a toh
OF coal for immediate delivery. The supply
of Ignite coal is exhausted, and companies
having other kinds OF coal booked orders
for not more than one ton. subject TO two
weeks delay in delivery. The railroad
companies say they have enough coal
stored to meet all their requirements for
some time.
State militia is held in readiness to be
dispatched 10 the coal regions at the first
cali from the sheriffs of the counties at
fected.
Advices received at the headquarters OF
the United Mine Workers in this city lead
| the officials to believe the strike will be
successful. Fully 10000 miners struck In
/ Colorado. The miners claim they are strik-
| ing for the enforcement of the law. In
| Colorado, it is said, conditions are the
worst as the law is utterly disregarded
| and lives are lost daily by carelessness or
| the part of the operators. The state law
provides for An eight-hour work day and
proper yentiletion of the mines, both OF
| which are not enforced 1t is pointed Out
| that owing to improper ventilation, 33S lives
| were lost recently in the Green River mine
| on account of fire gas. Such accidents as
| these are said to be Of almost daily occur
! renee, and the miners have refused to bf
| further imposed upon. Their demands are
| for payment In legal money, proper ventila
| shorter hours of labor. William Howells
| president of District Is, is conducting the
| strike. Many of the prominent workers OF
| the United Mine Workers are in the field
| Among them are Chris Evans and Mother
| Jones.