The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
Eastern Mines Have Vast J
Supply Of Coal Hoarded
Against Strike.
Situation Not as Good at the
Western Galleries as
in Illinois.

Journal Special Service.
= INDIANAPOLIS IND. March 81
With the dawn of Monday morn
ing, America will witness the be-
ginning of the greatest industrial strike
in it's history. Official orders already
have been issued which in effect will
close the coal mines of the country.
Of the 100000 men employed in and
around the coal mines in the United
States, approximately four hundred
thousand will refuse to go to the shafts.
About one-half of the remaining num-
Der will report for duty, only to per-
struction Of property. The actual pro-
duction of coal practically will be
! stopped. rs
Minimized as the effects of the sus-
pension have been by the decision of
the United Mine Workers Of America
to work for any mineowner who is will
ing to pay the scale of wages in force
in 1908, still the struggle is stupendous
in it's proportions.
| The Coal Shortage.
| he uuTdClOn OI tuo SuSptHSIOu III It's
entirety is problematical. Even more
so is the effect it may have on the in
dustrial prosperity Of the country. It
10 certain that there is no immediate
danger of shortage Of coal. That is
improbable within sixty days.
Before the expiration Of sixty days
the entire situation may be changed.
For the last two months, since it be-
came apparent that there was a strong
possibility of general strike, the coal
mines have been working almost to
their full capacity. Coal in large guam
titles has been stored for future emer.
gencies. Especially is this true in the
anthracite fields and in western Penn.
sylvania, and the Hooking valley in
Ohio, where the nature Of the coal per-
mits Of it's being kept for months with
cut depreciation in value to any ex-
tent.
Western Coal Supply.
In the west. and especially in Illinois,
; the nature Of the coal does not permit
of it's being stored for any length Of
:; time except at an immense loss to the
owner In sixty days Illinois coal will
. lose 40 per cent in value because of
the amount Of "slacko produced by
climatic exposure.
From present indications the hardest
fight is likely to be made in Illinois
In addition to the advance in wages
demanded, the Illinois operators assert
that they are compelled to submit to
conditions and restrictions which make
it impossible FOR them to work their
mines proftably. The Illinois opera
tors are well organized, and they vii
act in conjunction better, perhaps, than
the employers in any other state.
s. The Pittsburg Coal company controls
number of mines in Illinois under thu
name of the Illinois Galleries company
These mines, like the rest Of Mr.. Rob
erations under the increased scale
Their output is about one million ton.
a year out of a total Of about thirty
eight million in the state, and the op
orators say they do not fear that com
petition.
l LII w CoUCIA < 1o4CSs
Competition from the nonunion mine
in Kentucky is more feared by the Lii
nois operators than the Illinois Col
lieries company. The miners, however
expect to be able to stop large par
Of the Kentucky product.
In Indiana there are no mines tina
are expected to resume work in th
immediate future
In Iowa and Michigan the operator
and the miners make district agree
ments independent of the operators {
other states. The production Of COS
in either state is not large, that q
Michigan being less than 100000 ton
a year.
In the southwest district, which cor
tains Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, II
Continued on I'd Page. 9th Column.