The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-28
CONDITIONS IN CARBON
Fuel CompanY's Struggle With
Striking Miners Developed
Into Endurance Contest.

What purports te be statement
Of actual conditions existing ia Car
bon county was made last night by
travelling salesman who mad just
returned from tour Of the coo8
camps. He said:
There are now about $50 Of the
striking coal miners LETT IN Carbon
county OF this number. 300 were en-
ployed at Winter Quarters and clear
Creek; zoo at Sunnyside, and 25o at
Castle Gate. Ample provision for
these men and their families has been
made by the United Mine Workers.
The single men ara sheltered in tents
but for the most part the women and
children occupy houses. At ScOfeid,
the largest settlement of The strikers,
the rent bill Of tho Mine Workers fo0ts
UP TO $500 month. Weather c0ndi-
tons lately have favored the strikers
There has been no actual want among
them and no talk of abandoning the
strike is heard
''The Fuel company is operating
eighteen coke ovens at Castle Crate
where 100 were running before the
strike. There are now on the payrOlls
or the company 500 men al sunny
side. $40 at Castle Gate and $40 ST
Winter Quarters and clear Creek COM
bined The inexperienced men who
took the places Of the striking min
ers are rapidly deserving. [ have the
names of eighty three men wno left
the COmpanys Sunnyside works in
eight days The company has inn
ported twenty negroes frcm Missouri
who are working at Castle Gate.
Within the last ten DAYS he num-
Der Of armed guards employed By the
Fuel company has been increased and
they are distributed in this manner.
At Suunyside, 20: Clear Greek, SEQ
field and Winter Quarters, 35; Castle
Gate, p. In addition there are num-
Der Of train guards and men who pass
from camp to camp.
Every pTecautiOn is taken by en-
rloSes. of the company to prevent
union men getting into Clear Greek.
A high board fence has been built
across the eounty road and extending
high up on the hill. The fence Is
about one mile below the Clear Creek
mine. Trains for Clear Creek must
pass through a gate ia this fence.
Guards employed by the company
board all trains at Cotton and closely
examine all passengers bound for the
coal camps. II they are not entirely
satisfied with the appearance Of "a
traveller he is requested TO leave the
train before it enters Clear Creek.
similar precautions are now taken
at Winter Quarters. About half way
between that place and Scoield armed
guards stop everyone who is not IA
yorably known.
Several incidents that have recent
ly' occurred have greatly increased the
bitterness between the strikers and
the guards, The former allege that
they are prevented from going TO the
postoffiee at Sunnyside and they de-
clare they viii carry this grievance
TO Washington. Another aggravating
incident was the act of the guards in
stopping children from Mitchell Town
who were on their way TO school. and
forcing them TO turn back. Feeling
! became so intense over this incident
that it was not repeated.
strikers claim that many Of the
meB now at work in the Clear Greek
/ mine are virtually prisoners. In proof
of this statement they cite an occur
renee of q few days ago. A Finn at
I Scofeld had written to fourteen of his
fellow cOuntrymen at Clear Greek, urg-
ing them to join the strikers. The
Firms left their work, walked down to
the gate ana told the guard they de-
sired to go to SCOfield. It is said the
guards turned them back, threaten
ing TO shoot any who attempted TO
/ leave the camp.
a travelling buyer for q Salt Lake
man had an exciting experience in
getting into Clear Greek, where he de
sired TO transact business. The guards
didn't like his looks. evidently, for
twice he was obliged to leave the train
before it reached the coal camp. The
I buyer was determined, however, to ger
into that town. and he returned to SEQ
field resolved to make third attempt.
He ascertsineG that freight train
would leave ScOfeld for Clear Creek
in the afternoon and, adopting tramp
tactics he slowed himself away in q
box car. Two hours later the train
pulled out and the travelling man
reached Clear Creek all right
Then his troubles began. As he
emerged from the box-car he was
promptly captured By the vigilant
+ guards Of the Fuel company and hauled
To the Office. He explained the object
/ of his visit and was permitted 10
I transact his business"