The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-16
COAL MEN LOOK FOR 4 STRIKE
NEAR THAT THE MINERS ARE
IN AN ANGRY MOOD.

COIIiery BupeFintendcnts I'm Town 90 Meet
the Dealers Bring DiScOuraging NewS
Much Anthracite Now Being Stored
Here-Big Buildings Are Stocking Up.
The storm yesterday increased the de-
mand for anthracite and the coal dealers
were overwhelmed with orders. A num-
Der Of superintendents from the anthracite
oollieries came to the city yesterday and
had talks with the leading member OF the
Coal Merchants Association. Little doubt
was left in the minds Of the members OF
the association that there would b an
anthracite strike on April l.. A prominent
member OF the association who Is looked
on as the best posted man in the city, said
last evening:
sThe best informed people now believe
there will be an anthracite strike. The
superintendents Of collieries who visited
the city to-day are more in touch with the
miners than the operators are and say
that the feeling Of the miners toward the
operators is very hitter, not 30 much from
any tangible grievance as from the socialis-
tic dislike OF some people for others who
have more money than themselves. This
feeling is not shared by all the miners,
hut practically all the miners seem to look
for a strike. One reason is that President
Mitchell OF the United Mine Workers laid
himself under obligations to gain some
thing for the miners when he drummed
them into the union on his last organizing
tour. He has gained nothing for them.
as the operators have refused all the de-
mands.
1.-THE principal reason, however, is that
the miners know that If there is not a
-, t. iii - - ,,H a,-,, ,,pfi1 fla TIP
plus of coal is got rid Of. A shutdown will
mean that the collieries will be running two
DAYS a week instead of full time. This might
extend over four or five months. The
miners. knowing that they would be idle
ANYWAY. are now 10 favor of striking for
two or three months in the hopes that they
NAV gain something. 1t is understood that
in case of a shutdown and no strike the
prices will not be increased. We have no
knowledge yet whether in such a case the
customary summer reduction will take
place"
The depots established through the coope-
ration of the operators during the last
strike at ST. Water street and 100 Washing
ton street to sell coal bv the pail at a reasona-
BILE price did a roaring business Yesterday.
The usual price is 10 cents a pail and the
Greek and Italian pedles who sell coal
by the pail gave a smaller measure yester-
day in some cases.
At the stations the coal ia sold by the pail
at SO a ton, sixty pals to the ton. at 10 cents
a pail. The deTots when first started
through the cooperation of the coal carry
ing companies. the charitable organizations
and the coal dealers we're intended to be
permanent institutions where in case Of
scar city OF coal the poor could always find
q supply.
The hotels. apartment houses and other
big buildings are laying in large quantities
of anthracite in anticipation of a strike
Henry Barber of Water and Oliver streets ,
a member of the Retail Coal Dealers Asso-
citation. said yesterday.
During the remaining weeks OF this
month the coal dealers will use every means
are being put in commission for storing the
coal, as it costs too much to store il in the
city. The barges as a rule hold from 400
to 100 tons each. About 10000 tons a day
at least are now being stored in the barges
by some of the firms. / have advised all
my customers to lay in as much anthracite
as they can. and other dealers are doing
the same. The big office buildings and de-
partment stores, generally speaking. are
laying in as much as their cellars will hold
Some of the dealers said that there was
no need to fear either a strike or a shut
down, as a shutdown would be merely to
get RID OF the surplus coal, dHu IL WOulu
take a long strike to exhaust the surplus.
None of the dealers Yesterday was taking
orders, however, for coal to be delivered
after April /.
FAILS TO MENTION
SITUATION.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 15.-The adjourn
ment of the national convention OF the
United Mine Workers this afternoon found
the anthracite delegates completely mysti-
fed by the action of President Mitchell, who
in his address said not a wo d about the
anthracite situation,
On the other hand he spoke most hope
fully of a settlement OF the bituminous
basis of that settlement had already been
laid.
The fact that Mitchell quoted the letter
Of President Roosevelt and spoke of the
responsibilities resting upon the miners
is construed to mean that the leaders are
willing to meet the operators more than
half way.
IF the soft coal scale of 1908 is restored
said a delegate, we will have more than a
fighting chance in the East, for we can
take care of the men thrown out in the
anthr acite fields"
Patrick Dolan was kept out OF to-day's
convention. The credentials committee
CHICAGO, March 15.-Buyers are scurrying
for free coal 1t is estimated that there
is less than 5000 tons of soft coal here not
notified that after this week railroads will
not supply cars for fuel, as they will need
them to take care of their own wants and
to prepare for the expected famine.
The city is foremost among those storing
coal. All the pumping stations are sur
rounded by piles of fuel, but it is estimated
that it will be impossible to get more than
a sixty day supply before April |. ,
WrLKEsBARRE, Pa, March l5'-.Several
independent operators to-day raised the
price of coal so cents a ton. Even at the
advanced price they are booking orders
three weeks ahead. Teams OF all descrip-
tions are utilized TO haul coal and house,
holders are stocking their cellars to their
capacity.
HARVARD CREW CHANGES.