Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

selves-if they ever do-of the handicap of
the two-years' experience clause in the law
In time to affect the strike possibilities OF
this coming spring.
AS long as the contract-miner class Is
thus strictly limited by law it is virtually
impossible, short of breaking down the
union lines to find men to cut the COAL
Some few men can in times of great stress
be persuaded to take work in distant col
lieries under other names than their own,
but this is dangerous proceeding. and 1t
is not likely that the operators VIII resort
to it next spring If the strike is called.
More likely, indeed, is 1t that the opera
tors will force the ISSUE in case the union
presses its demands determinedly, by shut
ting down the mines in February or early
in March. There is now being stored at
various points along the lines of the coal
mining railroads great quantities of anthra-
cite, intended as a reserve in case of
strike. 1t is a safe estimate that there are
today fully 100000 tons thus stored-great
mountains of coal that growing from
week to week through the addition of the
surplus of the market. By the first Of next
March there will probably be no less than
10000, 600 tons thus stored, perhaps even
more.
The years output of coal is at present
approximately G0000G0O tons. During the
coal year 1904 the output was somewhat
below this Thus with 10,0G0,000 tons
stored alorg the out-of-the-way sidings of
the roads there will be a reserve of two
months supply. 1t is believed to have
tors to hold this against the demands of
the public year hence in case a strike
were called extending throughout the sum-
mer and into the autumn. But now there
is disposition to regard these coal noun
tains as tied-up capital and TO realize upon
them earlier. But there is a stronger mo-
tive than the financial reason for shutting
down the mines and drawing upon these
stores as early as February. By so do
ing, it is said the operator will force the
hand of the union and lower the workers
powers of resistance by exhausting their
resources.
If this is done and the workers persist
In their demands to the point of a strike
1t is difficult to exactly express walk
OUT in the case of already closed mines
the reserve of the operators will have been
exhausted long before the autumn demand
for coal is felt. There is little doubt as
to the character of public sentiment In
such case. That it would center in a
storm of denunciatfon of the mine owners
is virtually certain, and this fact is realized
and is the one element that makes it ques-
tfonable whether the operators will adopt
the expedent of February closing of the
mines for strategic reasons.
Meanwhile the presence of these vast
coal heaps, which are located on the less
frequented branches of the coal-carrying
roads-is an anomaly. The visible supply
of anthracite is materially larger than the
market supply, and yet the prices remain
at a high point. If this coal were placed
now on the market, to meet the needs of
the consumers this winter, the price should
fall by at least II per cent. 1t Is safe to
predict that there will be no drop in the
rates.
One other precaution that the opera tors
are taking is attracting attention. per-
haps more seriously than 1T deserves.
Throughout the anthracite region to
be seen carpenters at work building high
fences around the breakers, "stockades,' In
the language of the region. These fences
are about ten, or in some cases twelve,
feet high and are usually embroidered at
the top with couple of strands of barbed
wire. They are not formidable looking bar
ricades. They could be easily rushed by
gangs of desperate men armed with batter
ing rams, and in view of the naturally and
artifcially undulating character of the adj
jacent country they would afford but poor
screen in most cases to a force of workers
within or even to armed guards.
These fences are designed chiefly for
moral effect, in time Of peace as well as in |
time of war. Said one of the operating /
officials of the Scranton district: I'VE are
always more or less subject to inccndiarsm |
Breakers catch fire and burn in mysteri- |
Gus manner despite all our precautions. even |
when there is no sign of trouble with the |
men, 1t Is impossible for our watchnen |
to draw the boundary lines rigidly and |
keep the loiterers off the premises immedi- |
ately surrounding a breaker or shaft or |
trestIe. They will respect q fence, as |
tangible evidence of ownership, and while |
they could easily scale 1t, on occasion, they |
will not venture to do so save on extreme |
ion."
Hence the 'stockades," which have, how |
ever, q more sinister appearance to the |
miners than they have to the visitor.
There is no agreement among the opera |
tors az to the advisabiiity or need of erect