The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-12
BOTH CLAIM GAINS
LITTLE NEW IN THE STRIKE
 SITUATION.
slos.-shemeld Company Announces That 1t Will Never Again Treat With the Miners as an
 Organization.

Birmingham. Aug. 11.-(special)- Both the operators and coal miners claim to have made advances today Tn the strike situation. The operators claim that more men returned to work this morning and that there has been a better production at he mines. where union men are out on strike.
 The Sloss-- Sheffield Steel and Iron Company is loading 400 coke ovens to- night with coal mined at both union and non-union mines. There was an informal conference of furnace opera tors held this morning and representa- tatives from almost all of the com panies affected and there was an ex- change of opinions as to the situation. The companies all reported progress being made in the strike.
 The Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron Company today announced that none of it's mines would ever be run again with union labor and that September 1 all men occupying their houses ana not working must vacate: The evic- ton notices were served by this com pany today. The Sloss- Sheffield Com pany also announced that on yesterday at it's mines, employing union and non union labor. 1t produced over 100 cars Railroad Company has mines running with convict and non-union labor.
 On the other hand the leaders of the miners assert that not bit or progress has been made since yesterday ana that a full investigation does not show that more than half a dozen men over the number which went to work yes terday went to digging coal today. They state that the men are remain ing firm and will not desert their organization. It Is claimed now that the fight has gotten down to the mat ter of union or no union.
 So far there have been no disturb ances in the mining circles. Two negroes were arrested by the special deputies at the Graves mines. but the warrants have no direct bearing on the strike, obtaining money under false pretenses," being the allegations. large number of deputies have been employed and distributed around the various mines where there are strikers. A number of others were sent out to- day by Sheriff Burgin. The latter is swearing in men. requiring bond from each man, and every company request ing deputies is being furnished as many as is desired.
 No change is reported in the Blue Creek region, in the southern part of the country. The Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Company operates these mines and heretofore during strike periods this was the first place tackled to break the strike. There are a large number of negroes regularly em- ployed In Blue Creek, but a colored member of the union who called at headouarters in the city this morning reported that the negroes in the Creek region are remaining firm to the cause.
 Non-union coal mines in the western portion of Jefferson County. Pratt Coal Company and Sayre Coal and Mining Company. operators. yesterday produc- ed and shipped ninety-seven cars of coal Superintendent R. M. Starks, of the South and North Alabama ana Birmingham Mineral divisions of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad which company handles the coal, ac- companied by officials of the coal com panies named. made . tour of inspec- tion through the mines in full opera tion This coal is finding ready de- mand.