The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-07
COAL STRIKE WOULD
HINDER INDUSTRY HERE
Manufacturers and Others Discuss
Threatened Labor War, Regard
ing Local Effect.

That local industry would be seriously
affected by the coal strike threatened by
Saturdays action of the miners in joint
conference with the operators In this city
Saturday is a natural inference confirmed
BY the statements of a number OF large
manufacturers interviewed by the Journal
last evening.
manufactures seen by the Journal gave
the information that their plants would
have to close within periods of time rang
ing from one week TO two months AFTER
event OF a general strike.
A w Coffin. OF Coffin. Fletcher & Co.,
said his company carries not more than a
weeks supply of coal
1--WE have not the facilities to carry a
large stock of COAL" he said, land can only
take care of about six or eight cars, or
about a weeks supply Storage of coal is
an expensive matter, and we have tried to
save as much possible there. To be per-
fectly frank with you, We would be Sc
riously embarrassed in the event of a
strike. and We can't burn oil and there
is no gas.
Charles E. Brooks. of the Malleable Iron
I'VE have on hand and due on our or
ders TO be shipped before April l. about a
two months supply. so that we could run
for that length of time. l am no prophet,
and cannot say what would happen beyond
that time
Samuel Reid. of the Kingan Company.
strike, but deplored the situation
1--WE have plenty of coal for the present.
he said, probably enough to last about
six weeks. But the situation Is very I'M
fortunate and a strike would worry us
Just the il would worry others.
Yet I am inclined TO think that the case
is not hopeless yet. although 1t looks bad =
down following a strike was made by ID.
NJ Parry of the Parry Manufacturing
Company,
s,T-be mo toritv of rnanufa ct,,rers ba ra
marked. ARE situated just about like us.
We would have to shut down within two
or three weeks. or course II our supply
OF coal were To be cut of we would run
as light as possible in every department
but would have TO shut down completely in
time"
]. II. Hooker. of the Sinker-Davis Com
I'VE are limited for storage room, and
our regular capacity is for only about
three weeks supply. With what we have
on hand and what is on the road for us
We could run six weeks, but that is all
we could do"
Former experience has made H c. At
kins. OF the Atkins saw works, wary of ex-
pressing positive opinion as to what
might happen
'sThe way we now stand" he said. 1--WE
could run from about three weeks to
thirty days. and we have contracts for
enough more TO run us until about the
middle of May-if the contracts are filled
Coal operators are apt 10 do at this time
they always do; give the coal to some
body who bids higher than we have done
Our orders that have been accepted amount
TO several hundred cars to be delivered
this month, but these would probably be
cut off in the event OF a strike. We might
be able 10 get a supply somewhere. but IL
would cost great deal of money to run"
ID. w. Marmon. of Nordyke * Marmon,
could give definite statement. He said:
I'VE have a reasonable amount on hand,
but we don't want a strike. Although we
have coal coming in all the time by car
loads. IL gets cleaned up quickly when a
strike comes. | can't say definitely how
long we could run
Edward II. Dean. of Dean Brothers. be-
lieves in making calculations only on what
he can see on hand. I'VE have now" he
said. enough coal 10 last for about three
or four weeks. OF course we always have
a lot of coal on the road. but i'm the event
of shortage. / don't place much faith in
that / am only sure Of what we have on
hand"