The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-16
MINERS AT WORK SHOW AN INCREASE Over 200 Said to be at Work
 at Dolomite END OF STRIKE NOT NEAR Union Officials Say the Men as Rule Are Remaining Flrm-operators
 Say They Are Much
 Encouraged.
END OF STRIKE NOT NEAR

union urging lne uiSu lO ieiidlH III
 There Is absolutely nothing to indicate an early termination of the strike and the two forces are evidently drawing fur ther apart in the struggle which now promises to be of long duration.
 The operators report that the force of men at the several mines is gradually in- creaslng and that the output of coal will soon be assuming business like propor- tions
 The officials of the union say that the members are remaining steadfast and that assertions from the organization have been few and far between.
 The mines at Coalburg. Sayreton and Dolomite were opened yesterday for the first time since the strike. The miners say that but one of their men reported for work at Coalburg and that none of their men reported at Sayreton. The first named mine is operated by the Sloss-Shef- field company and the latter by the Re public Iron and Steel company The Dolo- mite mine is operated by the Woodward Iron company.
 At Dolomite.
 According to reports from Woodward 24e miners went to work at Dolomite on a non-union basis About fifty of these men, according to the union officials were formerly members of the miners union. but the others were drafted from the coke ovens and other departments of the company works. The union men say their advices are that only 135 men went to work.
 It was reported yesterday that 56 men went to work at Johns, in the Blue Creek region. President Flynn says that according to his information received direct from Johns only five men, in addi- ton to the eleven already there, were at work, These five, MT. Flynn said, were negroes who were brought through the country from Bessemer. "So far not a single member of the union has gone back to work at Johns," said MT. Flynn, and we do not expect any member of the un- ion at that place to desert"
 It was also reported yesterday that a number of men had reported for work at Blooton.
 Preparing for Struggle.
 In the meantime the United Mine Workers are preparing for a vigorous struggle. Secretary Clemo Is busily en- gagged in laying in supplies for the men and having them shipped to the various union commissaries throughout the dis trict "We will see that no miner out on strike shall go unfed," said Mr. sClemo. land so far not case of want or suf- fering has been reported"
 To purchase the amount of provisions necessary to supply this army of strikers requires considerable judgment and much hard work. Every wholesale grocer and the business is required to submit a list of prices The one giving the best price provided the goods are of the proper quality is given the order. At present the union reports that 1t Is spending $12.O0O a week for supplies. This includes meat, lard. flour, meal sugar and coffee. So far no fresh meat has been issued. The salt meat which is sent out is of super for quality though it is not smoked. It is what is called short ribs or pig meat.
 To the person unacquainted with the system of the various unions in times of strikes it is hard to understand how such large sum of money can be so easily or regularly raised. The United Mine Workers organization has assessed every member now at work In Alabama one dollar out of his weeks wages. This Is said to bring in something over $5O00 a week. The members are then required to pay their regular dues out of their earn ings and this will add another $1oo0 malk- ing about s6O00 week derived from Dis- trict No. 20. In addition to this the na- tional board has voted to give the Ala bama miners all the assistance they may need. The national organization is now receiving about s1Oo.0OO a month in rev. is used to defray the expenses of the or ganzation and the surplus is put in the treasury. The United Mine Workers of America is said to have something like s1 oOo,ooo in it's treasury.
 The Treasury.
 The national treasury of this organiza- tion suffered a serious blow during the famous anthracite strike but quickly re- covered when peace was established. The anthracite strike is said to have cost the United Mine Workers something over s2.- O00,e0O
 During the present strike in Alabama the officials of he miners union who re- ceve a regular salary at their own sug- gestlon have been assessed 25 per cent of their salaries This was the assessment during the anthracite strike. During that famous strike the Alabama miners con tributed largely to the fund raised by the national organization. In fact, 1t is said, they did so well in that respect that the national board feels very kindly to- wards them in the present strike and without the slightest hesitation voted to furnish all funds necessary. < Around the various miners camps the union commissaries have grown almost to the size of a large grocery store. The presidents of the various locals are in charge of these stores and the miners are given a full weeks "a tions every Sat- urday.
 Realizing that the miners will eventually be forced out oi the company houses around the various mines the union off, cials have made arrangements to have 200 tents in readiness to be put up the moment the miners are put out of their houses by due process of law At some of the larger mines. when the men are put out. 1t is proposed to pitch q large camp simllar to those used